ON THEIR TOES: Cavaliers wicketkeeper Matt Corben attempts a stumping against Orange City’s Dave Boundy on Saturday. Photo: LUYKE SCHUYLER 0309lswadepark2
PUT DOWN: Orange City’s Matt Findlay dropped off the bowling of Stu Middleton in his side’s second innings yesterday. Photo: NICK MCGRATH
ORANGE City skipper Dave Boundy says his side will be ready and waiting for Cavaliers next weekend despite suffering a comprehensive first innings loss against the same side in the premiership’s final round yesterday.
Going head-to-head in a prelude to this weekend’s start of the Orange District Cricket Association first grade finals series, Orange City proved no match for Cavaliers, limping to 116 before Cavs wrapped up the points five wickets down.
But Boundy admitted his side, set to finish third regardless of the result over the weekend, wasn’t entirely motivated.
There wasn’t a lot on the line.
That all changes this weekend.
“We’ll have all our money on the table next weekend. That’s the big game,” Boundy fired yesterday after the loss, with Cavaliers finishing on 81 competition points in second place behind minor premiers CYMS on 84.
Orange City finished the year on 69 competition points.
“At the end of the day, motivation, it was probably not as high as it would have been had it been a finals game,” Boundy added.
“We’ll be looking to play some good cricket then.”
Cavaliers set up the final round win thanks largely to an effective bowling performance in the first innings.
Liam Gough (4-30) led the charge while Stu Middleton (3-14) and Brad Wright (3-25) picked up handy bags of wickets to restrict Orange City to a total of 116, with the tail wagging to get it that far.
Then, in reply, Middleton (51), James Ryan (30) and Richie Venner (26) guided Cavs to the first innings win.
Cavaliers reached 193, a lead of 77 runs, and sent City back in but half centuries from both Shaun Grenfell (67) and James Conn (50) ended any hope their opposition had of an outright victory and the minor premiership.
City ended play at 3-170.
Despite the win, Venner doesn’t believe the points give his side any sort of edge over the Warriors.
“It’s a completely different game next weekend,” the skipper said.
“If they come out next week and bat like they did [yesterday] afternoon and bat first again then we could be chasing a lot bigger total.”
Venner said after his side wrapped up first innings points, yesterdays’ clash “meandered along” with Cavaliers botching its chance at an outright while Orange City “didn’t show much intent to go for an outright win either”.
On the other hand, Boundy believes the hit in the middle will do his batsmen the world of good.
“Definitely. The best practice you can get is out in the middle,” Boundy said.
Venner said while a win is a win, his side’s catching must improve come finals time.
“When you start dropping blokes two, three, four times, you’re giving them too big an opportunity. That’s the biggest thing for us,” Venner said.
“I think it’s a concentration thing.”
