Geelong T20 skipper praises side’s depth despite Super Slam loss
GEELONG T20 skipper Josh McDonald lauded the depth of his squad, despite crashing out of the Vic Super Slam with a three-wicket loss to Northcote.
The undermanned Cats were gallant at Bill Lawry Oval yesterday, taking the semifinal clash into the 18th over.
But ultimately the Dragons prevailed at home, with skipper Blayde Baker smashing a six to see his side into the Renegades conference grand final with 16 balls to spare. “We’re definitely disappointed,” McDonald said.
“If you get to a final, you want to do well. We’ve been playing some pretty good T20 cricket, but unfortunately we just weren’t good enough with the bat on the day.
“They got off to a flyer. (Steven) Taylor took 25 off the first over, which put us on the back foot straight away. We fought hard to get back, but the boys did a good job to get here.”
Chasing Geelong’s 7-115, Taylor chanced his arm against young Cats off-spinner Lachie Field, belting four sixes.
“He took a bit of a risk to play with the spin and it paid off,” McDonald said.
“He’s a good player, he’s been a good player for a long time. The score was definitely under par, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Like the previous day against Carlton, the Cats found themselves in a spot of bother early, with coach Tim Ludeman gone on the first ball of the innings.
“He was pretty stiff, he got a thick edge and it went to third man,” McDonald said of Ludeman.
“Tom (Jackson) and myself consolidated for a few overs and then I had to go and get as many runs as I could in the powerplay and it didn’t pay off, unfortunately.
“We consistently lost wickets right through, which killed us. Clumps of wickets in T20 cricket is not only a dot ball but it’s one less batter at the end that can clear the pickets.”
With wickets falling around him, Eamonn Vines was left to pick up the pieces, but he found support in No.7 Brody Couch.Vines made 42 from 43 deliveries, while Couch crunched 28 from 26 to give Geelong a target.
“Vines played a different role, he came in at the end and he had the best strike rate of the team for the tournament,” McDonald said.
“He’s added a new string to his bow and he can clear the fence and Couchy got some confidence in the middle.
“Everyone contributed in the tournament at stages, so I was really pleased.”