A SWASHBUCKLING 93 not out from Stu Middleton last Friday night secured Cavaliers a place in the Royal Hotel Cup semi-finals.
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Middleton plundered the Blayney attack to all corners of Wade Park, and over them several times, to help his team chase down 137 in just the 14th over.
After winning the toss and batting first, a late flurry of boundaries catapulted Blayney to a more than defendable total.
However with Middleton in the zone, it was never enough.
The Cavaliers all-rounder annihilated the young Blayney attack, and took a significant liking to Blayney skipper Jameel Qureshi’s bowling, blasting three huge sixes off one of the finger spinner’s overs.
Middleton said the win was the first time Cavaliers had really performed well in the shortest form of the game.
“We actually produced the opposite of what we normally have,” he said.
“Normally we field really well, and bat ordinary in the Twenty20s. Tonight it really clicked with the bat, and our fielding left a bit to be desired.”
After a couple of low scores in T20 cricket, Middleton said it was good to get some time in the middle.
“I finally found the middle of the bat, the pressure was on a bit after a couple of ducks,” Middleton laughed
“I was hoping there was another 20 or so runs to chase, or someone might have sent me out a message I was close to a ton, I was seeing them like watermelons. But we got over the line.
“We had a chat about scoring singles and getting the other bloke on strike. But, they didn’t really bowl that well, they didn’t bowl to their field.”
The win sets up a blockbuster final four clash with CYMS, sheduled for next Friday night
However, Cavaliers have applied to the Orange District Cricket Association to have the game moved, as both Middleton and Venner are unavailable should the game be played on Friday.
The result of the request will be confirmed in the coming days, but CYMS players will be salivating at the idea of taking on Cavaliers without their two most experienced campaigners.
CYMS skipper Hugh Le Lievre refused to speculate on the notion of moving the game.
“Ultimately that will be up to the ODCA and the two committees I would think,” he said.
“I’d imagine the ODCA will consider the idea, and take it to the CYMS board, which I’m not a part of, and the two committees will make an informed decision.”
