JOSH Westwood had a big day out despite his team's loss in the Newcastle District Cricket Association match at Toronto on Saturday.
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Westwood top-scored with 66 for Toronto Workers who suffered an 86-run defeat to Wests in the 40-overs-per-side fixture at Ron Hill Oval.
Toronto was bowled out for 160 in the 35th over in reply to Wests' total of 246.
Westwood also starred with the ball, taking the bowling honours for the home team with 3-46 from eight overs. He also pouched a couple of catches.
Toronto's stand-in skipper Corey Brown said his inexperienced team was outclassed by Wests, who he expected to press for title honours this summer.
"In patches we did a lot of things right," Brown said.
The challenge now was for the young team to sustain its efforts for longer, he said.
Brown said Westwood was outstanding.
"Westy gave us a glimmer of hope," he said.
The tall right-hander played with style and power.
He pulled and chipped the ball into vacant spaces on the leg side, but also drove strongly down the ground when the bowlers went full.
Connor Lupton (11), Ethan Urquhart (18) and Finlay Thornton (28 not out) might not have made big scores in the middle order, but they delivered a glimpse into a promising future for Toronto.
The young trio could have been excused for going into their shells as Wests took early wickets and piled on the pressure.
But instead, they played with freedom and intent, all underpinned by good techniques.
"It was good to see those young guys put up a fight," Brown said.
Despite the loss, the captain felt his team took some more important steps towards becoming the team they want to be.
"I told the guys after the game it's those little battles that you win in a game - against a bowler who has played a lot of first grade - that will help you in the future," Brown said.
"Everyone's got a good technique in our team, it's just about game experience."
Toronto will add plenty of game experience to their XI this Saturday with the return of skipper Adrian Chad and fast bowler Andrew Somerville.
The pair missed the game against Wests because they were playing in the Newcastle representative team.
Toronto will travel to take on Newcastle City in the last of the 40-overs fixtures.