ONE OF Warrnambool cricket's most devastating batsmen is expected to help his childhood club shake off post-Christmas malaise.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Purnim has pounced on a Grassmere Cricket Association ruling allowing marquee players for its Twenty20 round this weekend, signing Woodford skipper Nick Butters.
Butters, Warrnambool's Melbourne Country Week captain, grew up watching dad Gary in Purnim colours at Rodger Henderson Oval.
Bulls skipper Ben Howarth said Butters was a welcome addition but called for a team performance.
Purnim endured a tough start to the season - failing to register a win until round six - but revived its finals chances with two straight triumphs prior to Christmas.
"(Butters) was apparently very keen to come back and have a bash, and we were pretty happy to have him," he laughed.
"To have somebody who has played a lot of high-standard cricket is good for me as a captain but it's also good for everyone else to have someone of that talent around.
"With the marquee players, if they can give you a good start, that's excellent but everyone still has to stand up.
"If he went out and made 50 off three overs, that's great, but if that's all we do as a side for the innings, you're still not going to win matches.
"We're excited to have him but we're looking to perform and not just leave it on one person."
Howarth, a second-year captain, felt Purnim could make a mark in the short-form game.
"Last season, playing primarily two-dayers, I didn't know if we were necessarily equipped to the Twenty20 format," he said.
"This year, with one-dayers, it looks like it has suited us a bit more with our list the way it is.
"We have younger players who have grown up watching it." Purnim will face Wangoom and high-flying Panmure in a bid to advance to semi-final action on Sunday.
The semi finals and final are set for Killarney Recreation Reserve.
FIXTURES:
ROUND ONE
Hawkesdale versus Yambuk, Woolsthorpe Recreation Reserve, 11:30am on Saturday
Mailors Flat versus Killarney, Winslow Recreation Reserve, 11:30am on Saturday
Purnim versus Wangoom, Rodger Henderson Oval, 11:30am on Saturday
Grassmere versus Panmure, Peter McDonald Oval, 11:30am on Saturday
ROUND TWO
Killarney versus Yambuk, Woolsthorpe Recreation Reserve, 2:30pm on Saturday
Mailors Flat versus Hawkesdale, Winslow Recreation Reserve, 2:30pm on Saturday
Purnim versus Panmure, Roger Henderson Oval, 2:30pm on Saturday
Grassmere versus Wangoom, Roger Henderson Oval, 2:30pm on Saturday
FINALS
TBC, Killarney Recreation Reserve, 9:30am on Sunday
TBC, Killarney Recreation Reserve, 12:30pm on Sunday
TBC, Killarney Recreation Reserve, 3:30pm on Sunday