SOUTH Dubbo captain Tim Berry has lamented the fact his side can not regularly field the same team after the Hornets got their hunt for the finals back on track with a five-wicket win over CYMS on Saturday.
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The Hornets have been the Whitney Cup's most inconsistent side this season, with impressive wins followed by disappointing losses and Berry admitted he would love to be able to have the same 12 players each week as he pushes for what he admits is an unlikely finals spot.
"It's very frustrating, we know we're there or thereabouts but our side is changing every week, it's not the same and guys are here one week and not the next so it's a bit of a commitment issue, I guess," he said.
"But if we can get over that we are a chance but I think we need a few things to fall our way now."
On a damp and sticky No. 3 pitch following the rain on Friday night, Berry won the vital toss and elected to bowl and despite a promising start from the Cougars they were dismissed in the final over for 161.
Berry then promoted all-rounder Ricky Sharma to the top of the order and it proved a masterstroke as he blasted a quickfire 43 to get his side off to the perfect start.
The Hornets controlled the run-chase well and reached the target for the loss of just five wickets.
"Yes, I think so," Berry said when asked if the toss went a long way to deciding the match.
"It was very vital to win the toss and field first and then we kept them to 161 and then the boys did well with the bat to reach it only five down."
Earlier in the day, CYMS opening pair Stuart Naden and Ryan Medley had overcome the difficult pitch to be 0-41 after ten overs, with Medley especially counter-attacking well.
But when Medley was caught behind off the bowling of Finlay with the score on 52, Naden followed just two balls later.
First drop Matt Ellis again played the anchor role but couldn't find any support and after making his way to 43 he was eventually the last man out.
Berry, Scott Tucker and Justin Knudsen all took two wickets each.
The Souths skipper said his side was content chasing 162 and that target was attacked quickly as Sharma took to CYMS opening bowler Nick Guthrie.
Berry said the thinking behind the decision to promote Sharma was simple.
"The deck was pretty flat by then and I didn't think there was too much and he likes to throw his arms a bit so I thought he was either going to get a few or we'd be one down but he was lucky enough to get away with an edge over slips and that got him going," he said.
Off-spinner Naden applied pressure form the other end and when Medley entered the attack that pressure was capitalised upon with the leg-spinner taking three quick wickets, including that of Sharma.
Asher Robins (35) and Berry (23) both fell to Dale O'Donnell but Finlay (29 not out) and Adam Carr (9 not out) saw the Hornets comfortably reach the target with more than four overs remaining.