CRUCIAL MATCH FOR UNI
CRICKET: This weekend is make or break for University as they prepare for a crucial double-header in the Harding-Madsen Shield.
Coach Chris Webster said the team needed to win at least one game in order to stay in finals contention for the one-day format.
“This weekend will determine our fate in this competition,” he said.
Most teams will be missing players with U21 South-Queensland trials on in Hervey Bay.
University will be without bowler Darcy Murphy and big hitter Corey Mays. Webster said this meant players in the lower divisions would get their chance this weekend.
“On the downside we’ll be missing key players but we have some guys who are keen to do well and will hopefully stand up for us and put on some good performances,” he said.
University will open its double-header round in Ipswich against Brothers and will return to Toowoomba tomorrow to take on the in-form Northern Brothers Diggers.
“Diggers have played pretty well this year. We always have a good game against them,” Webster said.
“They’re probably missing a few players as well with the rep trials.
“We generally go ok against them and it’s always pretty close.”
He said he needed more out of his top-order batsmen with too many getting out after scoring 20 runs or less.
“My biggest focus is getting 50-plus runs. It’s important and if you can get that in a game and the result will take care of itself,” he said.
Webster hoped the team will head into tomorrow’s game off a win. The team will be led by this week’s captain Dean Sullivan.
“He is the future leader of the club so it will be interesting to see how he goes,” Webster said.
A few reserves players will also step up into A grade for tomorrow’s game which Webster said would bring some more experience into the side.
“We need to finish games off a bit better,” he said.
“We tend to drop off in the last hour or two of games. That’s where you win or lose.”
He said players were dropping catches that should be taken which cost University games.
“If we can turn that around and last the whole day we’ll finish off better.”