Renowned as Twenty20 specialists, Tuggeranong captain Michael Wescombe has called for his batsmen to make smarter shot-selection decisions to become a force in the longer form of the game.
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The pre-season favourites for the RSM Bird Cameron/Douglas Cup will be looking to make the most of last week's great escape when they take on Weston Creek at Stirling, starting on Saturday.
Tailenders Luke Ryan and Chris Prescott survived more than half an hour to ensure Tuggeranong went to stumps at 8-107 to escape with a draw in its match with Eastlake and remain at the top of the two-day competition table.
''We were very lucky at the end, it was nail-biting stuff,'' Wescombe said. ''The boys lasted half an hour under pretty immense pressure.
''We know we should've done a lot better and we know we nearly cost ourselves six points, so we're fully aware we need to knuckle down and not just try to bowl sides out. In the short form we've been absolutely dominating and not losing many wickets, but we seem to be losing too many wickets and not lasting the innings in the two-day games. It's just poor execution of shots, but saying that Eastlake bowled very well, too.''
Tuggeranong has made the past four grand finals in the Twenty20 competition, and can move another step closer when it faces Illawarra in a quarter-final on Sunday.
''They won't be travelling three hours for nothing so we're expecting they'll be up for it,'' Wescombe said. ''They've got a couple of former Sydney grade players, so we won't be underestimating them.''
In other Konica Minolta Regional Cup encounters, Queanbeyan is on the road to play Albury Wodonga, Eastlake plays Weston Creek at Kingston and West's/UC hosts ANU - a day after they meet in the two-day competition on Saturday.
North Canberra Gungahlin is against Ginninderra and Eastlake and Queanbeyan square off in the round's other two-day fixtures.
Meanwhile, the ACT Meteors squandered a perfect opportunity to move up the Twenty20 ladder with a four-run loss to Tasmania Roar on Friday. Set 116, the Meteors needed just 16 to win off the final four overs with seven wickets in hand, but stumbled to finish at 6-111 at West Park Oval in Burnie.
Captain Kris Britt paced the innings with a well-made 42 from 43 balls, while Kate Owen was the pick of the bowlers with 3-20.
The Meteors will be looking to make amends in the Women's National Cricket League 50-over match on Saturday.