New-found confidence drives cracking innings
AN extensive pre-season working alongside the Norths’ senior playing group has given Bingen Balanzategui the confidence to swing from the hip. Based on his blistering half century on his last outing, it has paid dividends.
The young batsman starred for his side in their 84-run triumph over Wanderers in their last outing, smashing 58 off just 33 balls as the overs dwindled away.
Faced with a daunting and undefeated Sub Parks outfit led by the Gartrell brothers Balanzategui will be a key figure in thwarting their rival bowling attack.
While it is still early days in the Townsville Cricket season, Balanzategui said a series of frank conversations with the club’s leadership group had given him the belief he could fill any role the team needed him to.
“I think just confidence, confidence is a big thing and I’ve been doing a lot of work and talking to them about that,” Balanzategui said. “You learn to back yourself a bit more. I think I’ve just got a good routine and having those good senior players mentoring and coaching, it’s been a really big part of my development.”
Balanzategui said last year’s grand-final loss to Brothers had served as the fuel that has ignited their dominant start to the campaign.
“I think last year played a big part in our development because it taught us what we need to do to actually win a final,” he said.
“I think any grand-final loss would be a fuel for the next year.
“But we haven’t dwelled on it, if anything we’ve used it to fuel us for this year.”