SOUTH WEST Cricket Association's quest to regain promotion to division two of Melbourne Country Week has hit a slight speedbump on the eve of the semi-finals.
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The association suffered its first defeat of the 2019 campaign in a top-of-the-table clash against Warragul and District at Mount Waverley Reserve on Wednesday.
But SWC captain Todd Lamont backed his side to rebound from its 98-run loss in the semi-finals on Thursday.
"We knew Warragul would be strong and it lets us know where we need to be to beat them," the Mortlake all-rounder said.
"We have been bowling quite well and we have been batting well but today being the exception, because we hadn't faced the quality of bowlers until today.
"Our aim is to put 200 on the board and if we can do that we have the bowlers to defend it."
Lamont, who took 3-48 from nine overs and added just one run with the bat, said he had confidence in his side's make up heading into the sudden-death final.
"We have been rotating one (player) each day and we have another one coming up tomorrow so we will have to leave two out (tomorrow)," the Cats leader said.
"We will just have a look at the pitch and the make up of the team and go from there. We won't have to make big changes."
Fellow Mortlake player Tyler Schafer (23) and Bookaar's Fraser Lucas (21) were the side's top batsman in the failed run chase.
Meanwhile, Warrnambool and District Cricket Association's quest to secure victory in the top division of country week came to an end at the hands of West Gippsland at Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote.
After bowling WGCA out for 206 the Nick Butters-led side were bowled out for 146 in reply, leaving Warrnambool with a 1-2 record at this year's tournament.
A defeat tomorrow would see the association drop out of the top flight of country week for the first time since gaining promotion in 2015.
WDCA captain Nick Butters said his side was eager to secure its spot in the division for another year.
"A lot of guys were in the twos when we were there and saw how hard it was to get back into provincial," the Woodford all-rounder said.
"I know all the guys are chewing at the bit for tomorrow. Tonight will be a quiet one with a bit of recovery and then we will go for feed and talk about the game and what we can do to stay up."
Butters said his side, who had five scores of 20 or more and six scores under 10, would need to address its batting if it were to stay up in the top flight.
"We don't have to do too much because they all good players," he said. "They do it (make big scores) at home. They just have to adjust when we are down here, adjust to conditions and don't be selfish but have a selfish mindset and make a big score."
Both association's are yet to find out who they play on Thursday.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
