WAUCHOPE RSL captain Matt Day admitted his side lost its way during the run chase, but there were still positive signs from their 21-run loss to Macquarie Hotel.
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In the Premier Cricket League season-opener, Macquarie compiled a respectable 7-174 off their 40 overs before Wauchope could only manage 8-153 in reply.
“We fell a little bit short chasing,” Day said.
“We got bogged down a bit in the second lot of 10 overs which cost us and at the 20-over mark it was still only a run a ball.”
From that point, Wauchope lost wickets consistently which prevented them from building any batting partnerships.
“The wicket kept a bit low towards the end and we lost wickets at bad times,” Day said.
“Both sides were probably a bit batting strong and a few of our boys were having their first hit of the year.
“There’s still plenty of positives to come out of the game.”
Andrew Murrell had to be moved up the order due to an ongoing shoulder injury which prevented him from bowling.
We got bogged down a bit in the second lot of 10 overs which cost us.
- Wauchope RSL captain Matt Day
He responded by scoring a run-a-ball unbeaten half-century.
“We thought we’d give Muz an opportunity a bit higher up the order and he batted really well,” the captain said.
Day admitted their performance with the bat was something to learn and improve on when chasing totals throughout the season.
“We just need to push the button a bit earlier,” he said.
Macquarie openers Liam Coelho (24) and Mitch Quinn (25) laid the platform at the top of the order.
Scott Witchard then scored a composed 80 off 84 balls to help set up the total.
While satisfied to start the season with a victory, Macquarie captain Josh Hyde was disappointed his side’s sloppy fielding cost them another 20 runs.
“We’ve got to hold our standard up higher, especially in a competition like this one, you can’t be giving away runs like that in the field,” he said.
“I put it down to being the first game of the season, but we need to be better.”
We’ve got to hold our standard up higher, especially in a competition like this one, you can’t be giving away runs like that in the field.
- Macquarie Hotel captain Josh Hyde
Hyde was impressed with the opening partnership of Coelho and Quinn who saw the new ball off.
“They turned the strike over well and did their job for us because we didn’t lose the first wicket until about the 10th or 12th over,” he said.
“When you do that, it leaves you with 10 wickets to lose in 30 overs which rarely happens.”
Hyde claimed 3-41 off eight overs with the ball although it was the performance of Dylan Rumble who gave the captain cause for optimism.
“It was pretty impressive from Dyl for his first game of the year,” he said.
“He was a little bit rusty, but will be a handy replacement for the loss of Bads for us. I reckon he’s gotten a little bit quicker in the last season or two.”
