WENDOUREE captain Heath Pyke has been around cricket long enough to know it can be a funny game, and for that reason, his team must not take its foot off the pedal.
The Red Caps hold all the aces in the Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts grand final at Eastern Oval after claiming the all-important first innings advantage over Napoleons-Sebastopol last weekend.
They now hold a 93-run lead with Naps-Sebas 1-19 in their second dig. Captain-coach Dan Davies (nine not out) and night watchman Justin Ringin (four not out) are the current batsmen.
Pyke said his team would approach days three and four as if it were the start of a new match.
“We are fully aware that (Naps-Sebas) are still well and truly in the game and the way they bowled Sunday shows they have still got the hunger and passion to try and win,” Pyke said.
“In the end, when you are talking cricket all it is is one good partnership. Even though Justin Ringin is a night watchman, he and Dan Davies could put on 60 for the second wicket and all sudden the deficit is only 30.”
Pyke said his side, which is looking to become the first to claim five straight BCA club firsts premierships, would attack from the outset tomorrow.
“In the end you are basically going out to bowl a side out again. The moment you try and play safe or defensive because you have got a lead is probably a moment where you can lose the game to a certain degree,” he said.
The task for Naps-Sebas is simple. Bat well enough to erase the first innings margin and reach a score good enough to defend late in the match.
But that is easier said than done for a team that managed just 53 in its first innings and has not been noted for its batting throughout the season.
An in-form Wendouree bowling attack is also waiting to pounce, with Eamon Johnson, David Ellis, Jordan Oliver and Anthony Beacham all performing well on day one.
If Naps-Sebas does manage to post a significant lead, it must then take all 10 Wendouree wickets a second time to win the match.