Tara Murray
Darley got a reality check in the Ballarat Cricket Association on Saturday.
The ladder leaders were comprehensively beaten by Mt Clear in their most disappointing loss of the season.
The Lions were bowled out for just 105 in the 31st over, with Mt Clear making the runs just one wicket down.
Mt Clear finished 1-107 in the 22nd over.
Lions coach Brian Wheelahan said there was no excuse for that sort of performance.
“It was disappointing and we were outplayed by Mt Clear,” he said. “We were way off and full credit to Mt Clear.
“We need to park that and move on. You only have to be a little bit off in this competition and you get beaten.
“Yesterday wasn’t up to a good enough standard.”
Wheelahan said they addressed the performance straight after the game and they all took responsibility for not being switched on like they should have been.
He said while there was a little bit in the wicket, their performance wasn’t up to standard.
Most of the team got starts, but Hasitha Wickramasinghe’s 27 was the highest score.
“Our top four or five are crucial to us and they got those guys out cheaply,” he said.
“There was some poor batting in the lower and middle order and to not bat out the 50 overs was super disappointing.
“Thankfully we’ve set ourselves up enough that we should still hopefully play finals cricket.”
The Lions sit in the top two after 11 rounds with seven wins and two draws.
Wheelahan said he would have taken that at the start of the season. He said they still have work to do.
“Next week we’re back to two-day cricket and we have to work hard during the week to ensure we bat our 80 overs,” he said.
“We play Napoleons-Sebastopol this week, which is third, so it’s like a top of the table clash. We have to make sure we are switched on.”
Wheelahan said returning to two-day cricket, which will be played in finals, will be good for the side.
He said with an experienced line up, many preferred two-day cricket having played a lot of it in the past.
Wheelahan said he could have some tough selection decisions to make in the next few weeks with their second XI starting to find form.
He said the younger kids in the second XI were starting to find their feet at that level.
“A lack of experience cost us a couple of games before Christmas,” he said.
“There’s a couple that probably could play in the first XI. It’s great that we have that depth and blokes have to play well to play a game and retain their spot.”
Meanwhile, the Lions women’s side will be back in action on Sunday in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association women’s competition.
The Lions sit in third spot after six rounds, with this week the first round of competition since before Christmas.
