SYDENHAM Hillside will be hoping for a better showing this weekend after going down in their final home and away game of the summer away to Pascoe Vale Central on Saturday.
The Storm clung onto fourth spot despite the loss, and will again have to face their final round nemesis at the same venue this weekend for a place in the NWMCA’s George Luscombe Shield grand final.
A disappointing showing with the bat seven days earlier only netted 153 for the Storm despite lasting most of the day and only losing their final wicket with three overs to come.
However the bowling attack could do little as the ladder leaders responded in style on their home deck at Oak Park.
The chase lasted 49 overs and only came at the expense of a single wicket, as Pascoe Vale Central opener Cameron Hare smashed his way to an even, and ultimately unbeaten 100.
Storm coach John Thrush was understandably disappointed with the result.
“Obviously we would have loved to have taken more wickets and things may have gone our way a little bit,” Thrush explained.
“But they batted well. It’s as simple as that.”
Asked if the bowling effort was a concern, Thrush told Star his side’s focus will instead be its batting for the upcoming rematch.
“We’re probably more looking for an improvement in the batting to be honest with you,” he said.
“Some things didn’t go our way yesterday and a couple of things went against us, but we’ve just got to make a few runs to put ourselves in the game.
“I don’t think we bowled poorly, they just batted well.”
A form line that reads 2-3 since the New Year has shown Sydenham Hillside’s touch has slipped after an impressive start to the summer, but Thrush remains confident his side can turn things around against the form team of the last four weeks.
“Internally we’re very confident,” he said.
“We’ve been on top (of the ladder) in certain stages throughout the year, we won the one day final and I know our blokes can play a lot better than they did last Saturday.
“So we’ll go out this Saturday, we’re not going to give an inch and hopefully it will be enough to get us over the line.
“I’m sure they’re going to bring their best game too so we’ll see how we go.
“But I can tell you this much, it won’t be the same as this last game.”
Kealba Green Gully will host the other semi final against Buckley Park this weekend.
