By Lance Jenkinson
The foot will be planted firmly on the accelerator for Carlisle Park Vikings in the West Gippsland Cricket Association district competition.
The Vikings’ lead at the top of the ladder is not a cast iron one with three quality teams – Officer, Pakenham Upper Toomuc and Devon Meadows – snapping at their heels.
In a tight season at the top, any advantage will be vital come the finals, so the Vikings are desperate to keep hold of their No. 1 ranking.
Vikings president Aaron Straughair knows it will not be easy and his team has a big target on its back.
The pressure on the Vikings will be immense in the run in to the finals.
“It’s always good going into the last stretch of the season to be in that position,” Straughair said.
“But now everyone is going to be chasing us, so it makes it a little bit harder for us.
“You’ve got to be switched on every week.
“You’re sitting on top, but if you lose a couple of games, you can go to fourth.
“That’s been spoken about over the past couple of weeks.”
Carlisle Park coach Prabath Fonseka has done a magnificent job meshing the new players with the established campaigners.
The Vikings record of seven wins and a draw in nine matches is testament to the work that has been done by the leaders behind the scenes.
Some clubs would use a high turnover as an excuse for a slow start, but the Vikings were ready and raring to go from the outset.
It has also created a potent mix in the Vikings camp.
You have got a number of squad members motivated by last year’s gut wrenching one-wicket semi final loss to Officer.
While there are a handful of first year who have come into the camp like a breath of fresh air without the burden of history on their shoulders.
They all want one thing though – a flag.
“We’d be lying if we said it [last year’s semi final exit] wasn’t motivating us,” Straughair said.
“That does drive the guys that have been there.
“We’ve also got four or five new guys and their motivation in their first year at the club is just to get the win.”
Leading the charge for Carlisle Park has been a pair of star all-rounders.
Ravindu Kodithuwakku, a right arm off spin bowler and opening batsman, has made 260 runs at 32 and taken 12 wickets at 14.5.
David Nutting, a slow left arm bowler who darts the ball in and Kotithuwakku’s opening batting partner, has amassed 265 runs at 44.2 and snared 12 wickets at 15.5
“You need guys like Ravindu and Dave firing if we’re going to go all the way,” Straughair said.
“The other guys need to back up around them.”
One such player who is standing out from the rest of the squad is new recruit Senal De Silva.
The paceman has 16 wickets at 16.7, claiming a scalp in every game he has played for his new club.
Carlisle Park will continue its quest for the district minor premiership when it hits the road to face Kooweerup in a one-day game at Kooweerup Oval on Saturday.
