With the game in the balance it’s going to take a disciplined effort from either Centrals or Orange City to claim points on the second day of the two sides’ Orange District Cricket Association round four match-up at Country Club Oval.
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Orange City skipper Craig Rogan and Centrals wicketkeeper-bat Dean Turner know it too.
Orange City is in the box seat at 3-96 chasing 173 for victory, but considering the Warriors have had well-publicised batting woes in the opening three games of the season Turner knows his side remains firmly in the hunt.
In rounds one and two the Warriors suffered mini-collapses at the end of their innings’, losing 6-22 and 5-42 against Cavaliers and Kinross respectively before being skittled for just 66 against CYMS in round three.
Those numbers are enough to give Turner plenty of confidence and for him, there’s no reason a disciplined bowling performance can’t spark a similar scenario on Saturday.
“It does give us confidence, but those collapses and wickets in general really only come when you bowl in the right areas,” Turner said.
“That’s what we need, wickets, if Orange City bats the 20 remaining overs out they probably chase that down, so we need wickets early.
“To take them we need to be bowling in the right areas and staying disciplined.
If Orange City bats the 20 remaining overs out they probably chase that down, so we need wickets early.
- Centrals' Dean Turner
“We started doing that last weekend but then it fell by the wayside.”
Orange City skipper Craig Rogan knows his side hasn’t been at its best with the willow so far this summer, but said the Warriors’ determined effort under pressure late on day one could be a sign of the tide turning.
“I said leading into the game we needed to show a bit more resilience with the bat and the guys responded well in tricky conditions last week,” Rogan said.
“With some more of that I’m confident we can knock off the 70-odd required and grab our first win, I really think we’re one win away from really getting the ball rolling so we’re hoping that victory can come this weekend.”
Shaun Grenfell (4 not out) and Tim Lowe (16 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen overnight and the former will resume with Dave Boundy, who comes into the side for the unavailable Lowe.
Skipper Daryl Kennewell will spearhead Centrals’ attack, while he’ll look to the likes of Nick Sharp, leg spinner Matty Ripps and Matt Burgess to stand up under pressure.
Play resumes at Country Club Oval at 1pm.