Tara Murray
The confidence and belief is still there for Melton despite a winless start to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west season.
The Lions are yet to put a full game together this season as they aim to build on last season where they narrowly missed out on finals.
Lions playing coach Mitch Stephens said a lack of consistency was hurting them early in the season.
“It’s been a tough start,” he said. “Being 0-4 the season isn’t over for us, that’s for sure.
“The focus has been on consistency but we haven’t hit our straps with our batting and bowling.
“We’ve been hit or miss in those areas.
“Not one of our top four has gone on and got a big score and we’ve been focused on getting a lot more time at the crease.
“We’ve bowled well in patches but our fielding has also let us down.”
Stephens said despite not opening the season with the results they wanted, the group believed in what they were doing.
He said having started last season 1-4 and only narrowly missing finals, they know that one win can be a turning point.
“We’ve been in this situation before and red ball cricket is one of our strengths,” he said.
“Hopefully it can get us going.”
On Saturday, the Lions fell short against Kew in a one-dayer.
Kew won the toss and decided to bat and were in trouble early at 5-80.
The tail was able to steady and the side went on to make 8-179.
Stephens said it was a bit disappointing to concede that many runs.
“It was 40-50 too many from where we had them,” he said.
“The lower order batted really well at the end. We bowled too many boundary balls even after we had spoke about trying to get them to hit to the long boundary.
“Had we been chasing 120-130 we would have been in the game.”
The Lions bowlers shared the wickets around, with three bowlers taking two each.
Off season recruit Rhys Berry continued his good form with another two.
Stephens, who also took two wickets, said Berry had made an instant impact at the club
“His confidence flows through the group,” he said.
“He’s moved into the new ball role and taken it on.”
The Lions batters failed to make the most of a good start with the side bowled out for 119 in the 40th over having been 2-95.
They lost their last four wickets without scoring.
Stephens said they had been in a good position despite a slow start.
“Chris Hope and Alex Kerr were turning over the run rate,” he said.
“We started to launch and we got it wrong, losing too many wickets.”
Hope top scored with 37.
The Lions task of getting their first win doesn’t get any easier, facing reigning premiers Spotswood on Saturday in a one-dayer.
Stephens said they had played some good sides early and got an idea of what they are capable of and backed themselves in against the Woodsmen.
