WESTERN Waves’ under 16 side is eager to use a Youth Premier League twenty20 double-header to bounce back from its first defeat of the state championships competition.
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The John Houston-coached side suffered a nine-wicket loss to Central Highlands at Merrivale on Monday.
The game was the first of four the Waves, whose players hail from Warrnambool up to the Wimmera, will play in the south-west over three days before wrapping up in Melbourne in January.
Houston is confident the Waves, who won their first game against Mallee Murray Heat in Horsham in November, can respond against Western Spirit and Northern Rivers at Port Fairy and Koroit respectively on Tuesday.
“We’ve got to be positive. We were in the same position last year and ended up a stone’s throw from missing the grand final,” he said.
Central Highlands reeled in Western Waves’ total of 91 in 14 overs, courtesy of a strong second-wicket partnership between Mace Cousins and Daniel Lalor.
Cousins finished 34 not out and Lalor contributed an unbeaten 35.
Riley Alexander, who hails from Hamilton, was the Waves’ sole wicket-taker and top-scored with 24.
Brierly-Christ Church all-rounder Campbell Love made 21.
“Credit to the Central Highlands’ boys, they set a good field which put pressure on us from the start,” Houston said.
“It’s a game of momentum and we didn’t allow ourselves to swing the momentum.”