Kookas expect tough tussle with Winch

THEY have been the dominant side all year, but the experienced Inverleigh line-up knows it can all unravel in just one weekend.

Without a loss post-Christmas, the Kookaburras go into this weekend’s semi-final against Winchelsea as heavy favourites.

But they only need to look back to last year’s semi to be well aware of the dangers of a knockout final, when they upset a powerful Winchelsea.

“Obviously the way it’s set up, you don’t get a second chance or an advantage for finishing on top or second or anything like that,” star Inverleigh batsman David Peel said.

“I think, personally, batting first in a final sets you up with a bit of an advantage, so runs on the board — especially if it’s a decent score — is always a bonus, as we found out in the grand final last year.”

Both sides have top-end talent that is hard to separate.

Inverleigh’s Nick Platt and Locke Perrett have been two of the competition’s most damaging bowlers, with ridiculous averages of 7.74 and 6.30.

Captain Lachlan Platt is also in form, fresh off his first century of the season last match after a string of a starts.

But Winchelsea also has two of the most prolific scorers in the competition.

Ray Edwards Jr (461 runs) and Adam Korth (405) have both scored centuries this season and are capable of shouldering a heavy-scoring load.

Joseph Maltby has taken 29 wickets and will spearhead Winchelsea’s bowling attack alongside Edwards Jr.

But the experienced Peel believes his side’s new-found balance, rather than individual performances, is behind its ladder-leading form.

“With our batting we’ve just been a lot more even this year, so I think Lachlan (Platt) isn’t feeling the pressure as much,” Peel said.

“Last year he was running training, picking sides and shouldering a lot of the load with the bat.

“While this year we’ve got his brother (Nick Platt) who’s been coaching us, helping with the sides and even captaining on game days.”

In the other semi-final, St Leonards and Drysdale will be hard to separate. Just one point divided the teams at the end of the regular season.

The Hawks chased down St Leonards’ total of 5-239 last weekend and a win this weekend would give them the chance to make immediate amends to last season’s A1 relegation.