North Ballarat is on the brink of a huge result against Wendouree, requiring just 32 runs for victory on Saturday.
The Roosters will resume play at 4-97 with Englishmen Matt Skeemer unbeaten on 41, he will be joined by Ray Dumesny who is yet to score.
Jason Crosbie, who is stand-in captain for Adam Eddy, said Wendouree’s total of 128 was a tricky one to chase down but he was confident the side would take the right approach and reel in the remaining runs.
“(The message is just to) consolidate like last week, we don’t want to lose clumps of wickets, we just want to keep the scoreboard ticking over and get the runs and see what happens from there,” Crosbie said.
“I reckon they’re the hardest totals to chase … I won’t be satisfied until we get those runs.
“I’d rather be in the position we’re in than they are but at the same time they’re Wendouree – they’ve been one of the best sides in the competition for a number of years for a reason.”
Crosbie described the sides’ bowling performance as “sensational”, but its stellar form with the ball was almost undone when North Ballarat slumped to 2-3 in the early stages of its run chase.
But it managed to put together partnerships of 25 and 60 to steady the ship.
“Once we got ourselves in early trouble with the bat we just dug in and it didn’t bother us the amount of overs we used up it was just a matter of keeping a few wickets in the shed.”
Skeemer led the charge with the ball with figures of 5-21 and he continues to be the potential match-winner for the Roosters as the established batsmen to resume on Saturday.
It will be a team-lifting victory if North Ballarat is to claim the points. It is without key players Adam Eddy and Leigh Lorenzen, leaving the bulk of the work to its young squad.
Crosbie said it would be pivotal to the morale of the side and was impressed with its positive response to the 191-run loss to Mt Clear.
“The pleasing part is to be in the position we’re in with such a young side.
“If we can get the chocolates without those guys contributing, it’d be a real morale boost.”
Crosbie said it was a difficult wicket to “get in on” but if you could get through the initial tough period in the innings, scoring became much easier.
“The wicket wasn’t the easiest to bat on, but in saying that if you applied yourself early it got a little easier when you got in.
“That total is certainly not an easy one, but one we’re confident we can knock off.”
