Ex-Services and City are both hoping their coming clash against each other can result in finding form with the bat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Servies were bowled out for 69 against Easts at the weekend and apart from Nick Farrar’s 34 and Kyle Taylor’s 82, eight of City’s batsmen were dismissed for a combined 32 against Hillgrove.
Taylor was at a loss as to what is going wrong with the tail end of his batting line-up.
“At Lambert the pitch is just that quick and the outfield is quick and runs are going to come, you just have to see it off,” he said.
“Matt Schaefer was bowling outstanding and I know me and Nick Farrar played him with a lot of respect but other boys went out there and threw their head in the air and were trying to chase quick runs.
“As captain of City I thought it was a bit arrogant, to think they could go out there and hit six every ball to win the game.”
While Servies haven’t been performing at the top of their game, Taylor wants his team to be wary and not get complacent.
“You can never underestimate them though,” he said.
“Brad Widders, last Friday night in the T20 bowled really well so he is probably one of the standout bowlers.
“With the bat, his leadership on that team, that is what we have got to really look at with the bowling.
“We have got to respect their bowling attack, I don't want us to go out there again and have 7-50 with a big collapse at the end.”
After being toweled up by Easts on Saturday, Servies welcome back a handful of regular first graders for the game against City.
Jose McDonald, Ben Spence and Andy Bartik are all available for selection in the John Elliot-skippered side.
“This week I have the luxury of having too many,” Elliot said.
“We have probably have got our full-strength side this weekend.”
As has been the case all season, Elliot wants his team to dig in with the bat and hang around on the crease.
He believes once they do that, they will be back in the winner’s circle.
“It mightn't look like it on paper but we are not far off jagging a win.
“If we can go out there and enjoy our cricket, that seems to be when we play our best cricket.”