IT’S the jarring form fluctuation that has left West Tamworth captain David Mudaliar bemused.
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It involves an “exceptional” performance invariably being followed by a “very ordinary” one.
On Saturday in a one-dayer against South Tamworth at RSC, Wests’ performance was exceptional on the Mudaliar scale.
The win saw them rebound from a heavily one-day loss to Old Boys the previous round.
In doing so, they leapfrogged Souths to finish second on the one-day ladder and book a final spot against Old Boys.
With opener Mudaliar belting 11 fours in amassing 79, Wests made 197.
They then dismissed Souths for 183 in the 39th over.
Mudaliar, in his first season captaining a rebuilt side, said there was no “middle ground” with Wests’ performances.
“When we play poorly, we play really poorly. And when we play well, we play exceptionally well,” he said. “We need to find out the catalyst behind that.”
Despite his concerns, he skipper allowed himself a moment to bask in the glow of Saturday’s win, describing it as a “special one of us”.
In making the one-day final, he said the side had “ticked off a big goal”. Now he needs to find a way to beat Old Boys for the first time this season.
He described Wests reversing their “struggling” displays against Old Boys as a “massive challenge”.
Wests allrounder Harrison Kelly produced as strong performance with bat and ball against Souths, scoring 39 and then taking 3-42 off eight overs.
No.3 Jack Massey (54) top-scored for Souths, while Souths’ best bowler was James Hammond with 3-23 off seven overs.
In the other match, North Tamworth skipper Brendan Rixon clubbed 86 as the Redbacks amassed 5-244 and then kept City United to 9-171 despite No.3 Tom Fitzgerald’s 103.
