VSDCA 2022-23: How Box Hill is preparing for Subbies power Werribee

Box Hill enters the finals on the back of two consecutive losses – but the skipper is bullish his side can turn it around. Here’s why.

BOX HILL captain Tom Newman is confident his side can regroup from a form-slump as it takes on a second finals campaign in three seasons this weekend.

The Mustangs finished the season in fifth spot with an 8-1-6 record after suffering a third defeat in four matches at the hands of Noble Park on Saturday.

They’ll meet powerhouse Werribee in an away qualifiyng final this weekend.

Last weekend’s result followed earlier losses to Endeavour Hills (sixth) and Melton (ninth), but with the evenness of the competition, a recovery isn’t far away according to Newman.

Just six points separated fifth to ninth on the ladder as the home-and-away season drew to a close.

Box Hill captain Tom Newman. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“The last two games haven’t been our best, but we took a little bit out of the second day of Endeavour Hills, being able to put a bit more pressure back on them and barring a bit of rain, we were a chance to take a reverse outright (win) which is quite rare,” Newman said.

“I think we’re not too far off, we’ve just got to fight with the bat.”

But Box Hill enters the finals with the most wickets taken of all sides in the comp this season – 131 – five better than minor premier Spotswood and 23 more than this weekend’s opponent.

UK imports Brad Yates (501 runs at an average of 45.55) and Cian Dickinson (427 at 28.47) have led the Mustangs with the bat – with Dickinson also claiming a leading 26 wickets at 15.62.

Hayden Rayner (23 wickets), James Box (20) and Muhammad Saeed (13) have also been handy, while the Mustangs have also relished the return of Abu Siddiqui (12 wickets).

“The ‘Poms’ have been super, but Hayden Rayner and James Box have bowled really well – Saeed’s also bowled well and AB’s (Siddiqui) come back after spending a year in Sydney – they’ve really held us in a strong point with our bowling,” Newman said.

“It’s been quite easy to captain because even if we sort of been behind the eight ball, we’re one or two good overs from breaking the game open with the ball.”

Newman says the list was in sound health leading into finals, with the exceptions of bowlers Parth Mehta (finger) and Noman Safdar (unavailable) who’ve been limited to five and six matches respectively.

A Werribee side which has taken out the past two First XI flags awaits, after finishing second at the end of the season.

“I don’t think they’ve had massive standouts looking at the stats with the batting and bowling – they’re just ultra consistent,” Newman said.

“I’m confident if we get everything right … in a final it becomes a little bit harder and they’ve got finals experience so it’s going to be difficult, but you never know.”