IT will be do-or-die for Brim-KellalacSheep Hills when it takes on Marnoo in the final round of Wimmera-Mallee Cricket Association’s A Grade competition tomorrow.
The Eagles were thought to have virtually no chance of qualifying for the finals two weeks ago, but put themselves back in the race with a spectacular outright win over Jeffcott.
They now sit just two points adrift of fourth-placed Wycheproof-Narraport on the ladder.
Captain Travis Fisher said the Eagles would look to replicate the weekend’s form when they played Marnoo.
“We’re definitely going for the outright win,” he said.
“There’s no other choice because Wycheproof has Jeffcott so they’ll probably go for the outright as well.”
Fisher said while the Eagles were ruing missed opportunities from earlier in the season, they could not afford to dwell on them.
“We should’ve won a couple of games earlier on in the season and we wouldn’t be in this position,” he said.
“If we can get early wickets, I’m about 70 per cent sure we can go for the outright.
“Our bowling will do the job – I’m confident in that – so it’s up to our batsmen.”
Fisher said batsman Matthew Crisp – fresh from a century at the weekend – would again be the key for the Eagles.
In other A Grade matches, Charlton hosts St Arnaud and St Mary’s and Donald square off in Warracknabeal.
Donald can take out the minor premiership with a win over the Saints, while St Arnaud can also claim top spot
if it beats Charlton and Donald lose.
The top four is decided in WimmeraMallee B Grade competition, however the order in which they will finish is not.
Ladder-leaders Birchip will meet third-placed Hopetoun this round and with only six points separating the teams, it is sure to be a tight tussle for the minor premiership.
Second-placed Donald could rain on both teams’ parade however, if it beats Wycheproof-Narraport and Birchip fails to win.
St Arnaud plays St Mary’s and Jeffcott hosts Brim-Kellalac-Sheep Hills.