West Tamworth veteran Stu Irwin has spoken about the side’s desire to “push teams into the ground”, after once-unfancied Wests notched their fourth win of the season with a defeat of City United in a one-dayer at Riverside 2 on Saturday.
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Decimated by player losses at the end of last season, Wests have rebounded surprisingly quickly under new captain Dave Mudaliar and are second on the ladder behind Old Boys.
Irwin – back in first grade this season after Wests lost three frontline bowlers at the end of last season – said his teammates were “playing for each other”.
“We are feeling pretty confident,” he said. “We like to take it each week and keep it going, keep up the wins, keep everybody’s confidence up. That’s just the way the team’s going at the moment.”
He added: “It gives you all the confidence just as a team to keep it going and push for them wins. When you get them down you keep pushing and keep pushing, and that just pushes the other team into the ground and you win.”
That verve was on full display against City United.
After winning the toss and batting, Wests finished on 6-260 off 40 overs. Mudaliar top-scoring with 73 – a knock that included 12 fours. He combined with Dan Collinson (55) for a 127-run opening stand.
Wests No.3 Harrison Kelly was next best with 51.
Tom Fitzgerald snared 3-14 off three overs and then top-scored with a 64-ball 69 as City United reached 8-233 in 40 overs.
Opener Brad Smith scored 44, while Brock Ridgewell captured 3-54 off eight overs.
