His side may have failed to win a game at the NSW Country Championship southern pool carnival, but Western Zone captain Jameel Qureshi feels his side still has players capable of reaching the next level.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Western suffered a five-wicket defeat to ACT Southern Districts on Sunday to complete a disappointing three days in Goulburn.
It will be an uphill battle for Western players to make the NSW Country squad but Dubbo's Mitch Bower is one in with a chance.
Bower is a former NSW Country representative and scored 92 runs across the three days while his left-arm spin also resulted in six wickets, equal third most at the carnival, at an average of 19.7.
"No-one in that side would let anyone down," Bathurst-based Qureshi said of Country chances.
"I'll leave the selectors to do all that, but if we could get anyone in there then that would be great.
Connor Slattery (101), Bower (92) and Imran Qureshi (86) filled positions four through six on the top southern pool's runscorers chart for the tournament.
Slattery was among the runs on Sunday, making 67 as Western posted 222.
But, as was the case on days one and two, Western couldn't bowl out their opposition as ACT Southern Districts reached the total with 21 balls to spare.
"I think we scored the most runs over the carnival and we were always in our games but I think we just lost our games more than other teams winning them, to be honest," Qureshi said.
"On the first day we lost our last four wickets in four balls and if we bat out our overs we probably win that game. Our catching also wasn't great. It's disappointing to lose all games but that's something we can work on for next year with such a young squad.
"Connor Slattery batted really well in that last game. Ryan Peacock and Benny Wheeler did really well. Brent Tucker and Hugh Le Lievre also bowled well."
Parkes were represented by Western Zone debutant Tucker, whose pacy left-armers were utilised opening the bowling while veteran Myles Smith opened the batting on two occasions alongside Qureshi.
Tucker bowled 22.3 overs for one wicket at an economy rate of 4.5.
Unfortunately Smith wasn't able to make an impact with the bat despite having many successful championship innings previously - he scored 12 runs from his three innings and took two catches.
READ MORE SPORTS NEWS:
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
