MORE dot balls, more maidens.
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That’s the message from Wangaratta Magpies captain Zac Guilfoyle ahead of today’s clash with defending premiers Yarrawonga-Mulwala.
After three one-dayers to open the season, today marks the first of the two-day games and the third top three side they have played in their past three starts.
Guilfoyle believes the longer version of the game will suit his team.
“We have done all right in the one-dayers but I think the two-day format suits us better,” he said.
“We bat deep but we are not about to go out there and blast away, it is more a case of valuing our wicket and accumulating runs.”
Magpies started the season with two good wins, including a victory over last year’s beaten grand finalists Bruck, before running into the City Colts “juggernaut” last week.
Guilfoyle said their bowling was found wanting.
“We felt we made a score that was defendable but we just didn’t bowl well enough,” he said.
“Sides like City Colts and Yarra have up to 10 guys who can score 50, four or five bowlers who can suffocate an end, dry up the runs.
“We need to start getting the ball into the keeper’s gloves more often, need more dot balls, more maidens.
“Last week against City Colts we just bowled too straight and when you do that you just leak runs against the better sides.”
Guilfoyle said it was time for his side to start competing with the upper tier of the Wangaratta competition.
“We can’t afford to be baby-sitting this side any more,” he said.
“Simon Patterson (former captain) has done a great job nurturing some of the juniors in recent years but they are getting to 17 and 18 years of age and it’s time for them to deliver on that promise.
“This year we’ve seen Jack Davies start to fire with the bat as well as the gloves.
“Dylan Landgren, 17, is another who we are looking at to develop this year — he’s an opening bowler who can slot straight onto a line and length and has a good cricket brain.
“Sides like Yarrawonga-Mulwala are the benchmark.”