IT’S rare to ever find a cricket team looking to win its first game of the season, and consolidate a place in the top four on the same weekend.
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But that’s exactly what Kira Churchland and her ACT Meteors will do in round five of the Women’s National Cricket League at Manuka Oval this weekend.
ACT is yet to taste victory in the Twenty20 competition, and takes on the Queensland Fire tonight and on Sunday in a bid to lift itself from the bottom of the table.
Churchland’s Meteors also take on Queensland in a 50-over game tomorrow, and sit fourth in the limited overs competition.
The Meteors are equal on points with two other teams but boast a better quotient.
“We definitely want to get one, at least one, back on Queensland,” the former CYMS all-rounder said, speaking of last year’s T20 final in which the Fire won easily.
“It’s definitely a motivating factor for us, especially the girls who played in that final. But also we really need to grab a win.”
Confidence, and momentum will be two big factors in her side’s bid to continue its march toward the limited overs finals, and both can be gained from tonight’s clash.
“The finals are definitely still in our minds for the 50 over stuff,” she said.
“So we need to make sure we win these last couple of games in that. We’ve been bowling and fielding brilliantly recently, we probably just haven’t scored enough runs.
“We’ve been a bit unlucky there, a couple of batters getting some rough calls, but you can’t control that in cricket.”
The Meteors had the bye last round, and Churchland said she will take some confidence into this weekend’s clash after a strong showing against South Australia in round three.
Batting at nine, Churchland scored a quick-fire 28 in the T20 fixture, and another hard-hitting 16 in the limited overs match the day after.
“I had a good weekend against South Australia,” the former CYMS all-rounder said.
“It was nice to get a few, especially to show the girls what I really can do too. Honestly it really depends on the match situation as to where I bat or bowl.
“I’m not too worried about it, I’ll take that as it comes. Obviously I want to keep scoring runs and taking wickets when I do get called on.”
Tonight’s T20 starts at 6pm, tomorrow’s 50 over game kicks off at 11am and Sunday’s T20 starts at 10am, all at Manuka Oval.