BIG WICKET: Kinross wicketkeeper-batsman Nick Lukins is a player to watch in tonight's Royal Hotel Cup clash at Wade Park. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1130twenty4
KINROSS player-coach Andrew Litchfield believes it’ll take close to the perfect match from his young side to get over the top of CYMS in tonight’s final Royal Hotel Cup pool match.
After initially being called off last Friday night following torrential rain at Wade Park in the lead up, the students now meet the green and golds tonight to determine just which side fills the final place in the race for the 2012-13 Twenty20 finals.
Molong plays Orange City in the second semi-final on February 15 while Blayney awaits the winner of tonight’s clash.
That match will be played this Friday, February 8, at Wade Park.
Litchfield is confident Kinross has what it takes to be the side to line-up against Blayney in the semis.
However, against CYMS, the veteran batsman knows it’ll require a near perfect performance to progress further in the Royal Hotel Cup’s first venture into Twenty20 cricket.
“We probably have to be perfect to win, but Twenty20 is a bit of a lottery. We’ll give it our best shot,” Litchfield said.
“We’re just focusing on a good team effort and if that gets us another chance on Friday night then we’ll take it with both hands.”
Litchfield said whichever side seizes the big moments will play a pivotal role in the outcome.
“Enthusiasm in the field, our guys aren’t capable of hitting the boundaries other sides are so we’ll have to make up the runs by running well between the wickets, taking all of our chances and pretty much being perfect in the field,” he said.
“Anything can happen in Twenty20 cricket.”
CYMS skipper Trent Colley believes dot balls and early wickets will be crucial.
“Kinross will be competitive, no doubt,” he said.
“They’ll go quite well and we just have to try and get on top early and build a bit of pressure.”
Tonight’s match at Wade Park is the first Colley will play with CYMS following a successful Australian Country Cricket Championship campaign with the Bush Blues in January.
The green and golds handled the time without Colley quite well, remaining in the hunt for a Royal Hotel Cup semi-final berth and consolidating a top-three spot in the ODCA’s first grade premiership.
Now, the experienced opening bat said it was important CYMS went on with the job.
“It’s a critical time of year... the boys have given a good account of themselves over the course of the year but it’ll mean nothing unless we make the most of it over the next few weeks and into the finals,” Colley said.
Tonight’s Royal Hotel Cup game begins at 6.30pm.