TODAY’S Orange District Cricket Association first grade clash between CYMS and Orange City will be a battle, as it always is, when two of the city’s best sides go head-to-head at Riawena Oval.
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This time, though, it’s probably not the battle most are used to seeing.
Not only are temperatures set to peak at 35 degrees celsius this afternoon, Orange City has half of its regular line-up out, with a broken toe sidelining strike bowler Jono Warren alongside Matt Findlay, James Conn, Adam Brakenridge, Scott Rosser and Lincoln Duncan, all out for various reasons.
CYMS, too, are undermanned.
They’re without skipper Trent Colley, who is on representative duty with NSW Country, Sam Dwyer and the competition’s best spinner in Al Dhatt, who is away overseas in India.
The wealth of absentees in both line-ups has given selectors a massive headache during the week.
What it’s also done, however, is hand a group of young guns an opportunity.
For City, in comes Charlie Cooper and James Donato for the one-day game.
“It’s just to give them a bit of a taste of first grade,” Boundy said.
“James got a big 100 in the Centenary Cup and James is one of our up and coming stars, I suppose you could say.
“It’s a different level but they’ll stand up. They’re keen as mustard.”
CYMS skipper David Neil said the green and golds would do it tough without two of the club’s best, however, the team was determined to maintain its place on top of the ODCA ladder.
CYMS currently sit two points ahead of Cavaliers in the race for the minor premiership.
“We’ve put ourselves in the best possible position to achieve our goals before Christmas and we’re not about to let that slip now,” Neil said.
“The players we’ve got coming into the side, they’re capable of doing the job.”
City’s run at another finals appearance was made a little more difficult after a loss in the final round before Christmas to Centrals.
There’s a 12 point buffer between the Warriors and the defending premiers.
It’s a margin Boundy knows can be closed very quickly should City falter.
“There’s only three in the finals this year, it’s important we gain as many points as we can over the next few rounds,” he said.
“If we lose this one then lose to Centrals again in the following round that puts a lot of pressure on us over the back end of the year.
“There’s 12 points between us at the moment but that’s not a lot really.
“It doesn’t help with only half a team either.”
Today’s play begins at 1pm.