Sydney T20 Cup
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Illawarra coach Dean Merola says attention to the "one-percenters" could be the difference in Illawarra claiming a victory in Sunday's Sydney T20 Cup at Chatswood Oval.
Illawarra was beaten by Eastern Suburbs by 36 runs and Sydney grade champions Randwick-Petersham by 14 runs in home T20 games last Sunday.
Illawarra take on Sydney and then Gordon at Chatswood Oval and need to win both games to have a hope of qualifying for the post-sectional phase in the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup comp.
Illawarra batted well in both home games - making 7-148 against Easts and 5-161 against Randwick, but the professionalism of the Sydney clubs in the big moments proved the difference.
"It's just the one-percenters were found out," Merola said.
"Batting-wise we're equal to the Sydney clubs, bowling in the main we were right there but just a few areas we fell short.
"In the field they turned ones into twos and stopped us making twos, plus made us pay in the late overs. We gave up 54 in the last three overs [versus Peterham] and lost by 14 runs so there's the difference right there," Merola said.
"The Sydney clubs have a culture of doing things right and we have to learn that. Talent-wise we're fine, we just need to improve in the little things and the wins will come."
With nine new players in the senior Illawarra squad and the likes of longtime skipper Graeme Batty and his NSW Country teammate Jono Cook not part of the squad, it was never going to be easy to beat the top Sydney clubs, even at home.
But the batting was solid in both games, with Wests Illawarra signing Olly Thompson (33 against Easts and 49 versus Randwick) and Adam Berwick (44 off 45 versus Easts) standouts.
Youngster Jarrod Colliss took two wickets on debut against Easts, and while Illawarra didn't have a particularly menacing attack, they were generally accurate and worked well as a unit.
The difference was a couple of class players the Sydney clubs could call on, with former Sydney Sixers batsman Ian Moran blasting 14 boundaries in his 77 for Easts in round one.
Jake Sciciuna's 59 anchored Randwick to a tight win in round three, but Illawarra were always competitive.
The Sydney versus Illawarra game is from 12.15pm tomorrow, followed by Illawarra taking on Gordon from 3.30pm.
Gordon will meet Sydney in the opening game at 9am.
Illawarra squad: David Murphy (c), Dale Scifleet, Olly Thompson, Adam Berwick, Mitch Calder, Matt Gauna, Xavier McDevitt, Jarrod Colliss, Jamie Fleming, Rhys Voysey, Taun Stanham, Shannon Crewdson.