West confident after surviving tense final hour
GEELONG West coach Justin McPhee is confident his side is in a strong position after skittling Corio for 188 in the first two-day match of the GCA3 season.
The Rams had Corio 6-69 after the dangerous Anthony Grace was dismissed, before some clean hitting from Dylan Shelley (58) dug the Devils out of a deep hole.
In reply, West got through 16 overs late to finish the day 1-24, with Matthew Rowe caught and bowled by Kevin Hayes for four.
McPhee said he felt about 230 would have been a par score at West Oval.
“I think it (188) is below (par),” McPhee said.
“Probably, 230-240 would have been average. I think with the rain about as well, it made it a bit hard for us as a bowling group.
“The ball was swinging around a bit and the oval was a bit wet. In those conditions to keep them to that was good.
“Obviously we got off to a reasonable start having them at 6-69 and they probably got away from us with some good clean hitting. Shelley, he got away from us a little bit.
“They got a few more than we would have liked, but we are pretty happy with the performance.”
Sam Kelly and Alistair Grant got the two early breakthroughs to have Corio 2-24, before off-spinner Alex Buckwell snared 7-67 to rip the Devils to shreds.
“They (the openers) bowled well early. Sam Kelly bowled a touch short early but after that he bowled really good lines and lengths and really set it up,” McPhee said.
Buckwell is a fresh face at the Rams, making the switch from Murgheboluc.
“He is a really good bowler with a lot of talent. I am hoping he has a pretty big year,” McPhee said.
“He can bat and bowl really well. It is handy to have someone of that quality as an allrounder and I think there is a lot of improvement still in him.
“There is a lot of improvement in him, so I think he is going to be really valuable for us.”
McPhee said the Rams held their nerve late in the afternoon, getting through the final 16 overs of the day relatively unscathed.
“The plan was to go out there and bat the day out and try not to lose too many wickets. We lost one early, they (Corio) bowled really well, so they toughed it out and it sets us up good for next week,” he said.