SEND IT DOWN: Peter Crisp bowled well for the students in their seven-wicket win over Centrals on Saturday. Photo: LUKE SCHUYLER 0126lskinross3
KINROSS is enjoying its first win of the 2012-13 Orange District Cricket Association first grade season following a convincing seven-wicket victory over Centrals on Saturday.
Chasing a paltry 75, Kinross breezed to victory in the 26th over with openers Charlie Litchfield and Nick Duffy, in his last game for the school-based club, guiding the students home with 17 and 40 respectively in a 51-run opening stand.
Kinross player-coach Andrew Litchfield was thrilled for his side, with a number of new faces enjoying victory in their first taste of first grade cricket on home turf at Kinross Oval.
“Hughy Britton and Hamish Sheehan, they’ve got lots of ability. Hamish took a good catch. They’re both really keen,” Litchfield said.
“It was their first first grade games and it was Peter Crisp’s second, and he bowled really well, really tight. Then you’ve got a couple of old blokes like myself and Stu [Crisp] and Chris came on and cleaned up their tail.
“It was a good effort from a makeshift team.”
Decimated by player unavailability, Centrals will be left to lick their wounds for the next fortnight with the bye after skipper Jarrod Simpson (21) and Matt Tedeschi (14) were the only two bats to reach double figures in a total of all out for 75.
Chris Gavin was the main wicket-taker, claiming 4-13.
The loss means Centrals, the defending premiers, are now officially out of the race for the 2012-13 title.
“Both sides were under-strength but it was still a good match,” Litchfield said.
“We bowled well and we held everything. We fielded really well and took our catches and a couple of good run outs. It’s the things I’ve been saying all year would keep us in games, make the difference for us and it did on Saturday.
“Centrals were heavily under-strength but it was a good match.”