WENDOUREE is staring down the barrel of a Ballarat Cricket Association season without its top side in finals for the first time since 2003.
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The league powerhouse needs things to go its way in the last home and away round or be forced to watch on as the top four battles out the premiership.
Wendouree is fifth on the ladder – six points and percentage behind the fourth-placed Mt Clear – and will contemplate two scenarios ahead of the two-day clash with Ballarat-Redan, starting next Saturday.
Firstly, victory is imperative to secure a finals place. And outright success is likely to be required.
Assuming the Red Caps clinch first innings points, they then need the Mounties to lose against Napoleons-Sebastopol and also make up the percentage difference to oust their rivals from the play-offs.
The other method requires Wendouree to claim all 10 points against the Two Swords.
This is almost certain to propel them into the top four, with Golden Point (second) and Darley (first) locking horns at Eastern Oval. The Red Caps would then leapfrog the loser.
In fact, any of the top four teams can still miss out on the finals in an enthralling finale to the home and away season.
“It’s either we win outright or we don’t play finals."
- Wendouree captain Cole Roscholler
Wendouree captain Cole Roscholler said he would lead the team against Ballarat-Redan with outright points his main focus.
“It’s either we win outright or we don’t play finals,” Roscholler said.
“It’s pretty black and white for us at the minute.”
Roscholler said there was confidence within the group that it was capable of taking 20 wickets in a match.
“There is certainly that belief that we can pull off an outright victory,” he said.
Wendouree has won six A-grade premierships since it last missed finals, including a historic five-peat between 2008-09 and 2012-13.