FIVE wickets to Cavaliers left-arm orthodox bowler Brad Wright has helped the defending Orange District Cricket Association premiers to a tightly fought first innings victory over Kinross.
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Played at KWS Main Oval, the students were sent in by Cavaliers skipper Stu Middleton.
Considering what went on concurrently at a flat Wade Park in the CYMS-Centrals clash, fielding first in searing heat seemed madness.
But it proved a masterstroke.
In an almost suffocating innings with the ball, Cavs ripped the life out the students’ batting line-up, with Wright’s 5-17 off 15.2 overs easily the pick of the figures, from either side, out of the first day of the round four contest.
Middleton was the other multiple-wicket taker in claiming 3-7 off his five overs.
Chasing just 88 for first innings points, Cavaliers did battle somewhat but passed the total six wickets down and will resume next Saturday at 8-96.
The competition’s leading wicket taker with 11 scalps at an average of 7.3, Wright thrived on an almost Riawena Oval-esque Kinross wicket.
“I’ve been lucky enough to put the ball on the spot early this season,” Wright said.
“The plan is just to keep the run rate down but I’m getting a couple of wickets this year too which is nice.
“I don’t mind bowling at Kinross, it’s not as low as Riawena but it was skidding on a little bit which was good.
“There was a little bit in it for everyone out there I think. It’s the first time we’ve played on that deck in the square and I think there was a bit of bounce and seam there early for the quicks and then a bit of turn later on.”
Aiding Cavaliers next week, regular top order batsman Tom Aggett will return to the line-up and bat.
Wright was hopeful the end result next Saturday would be an outright victory to Cavaliers, one that’ll shoot the premiers to the top of the ODCA ladder.
“To have your number four come in at nine or 10 will be big for us,” Wright said of Aggett.
“The plan is to get a few more on them then send them back in, but it could still go either way from here.
“Kinross is one of the only clubs who can stick around and bat out their overs, but we knew if we could get a couple of their big guns early that’d help.
“We got Litchy (Charles Litchfield) early and then Crispy (Stuart Crisp) as well. They were four down at drinks.”
For Kinross, Fletcher Rose’s 2-6 from 3.4 overs was the pick.
Play will resume next Saturday at 1pm.