As it stands, fourth-placed Cavaliers look to have won a spot in the Orange District Cricket Association finals.
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Unless the maroons crumble and Centrals can reverse last weekend’s first innings result, to claim an outright win that is.
On last weekend’s opening day of the final regular season round Cavaliers performed under pressure and secured first innings points, rolling Centrals for 144 before working their way to 4-152 at stumps.
Richie Venner made 86 of those himself and will return to the crease at 1pm on Saturday, looking to convert his start into a triple figure score and in the process help his side secure as many first innings bonus points as possible.
A big first innings win will be enough to see the maroons leapfrog the red and blacks into third and with that all in mind, Cavaliers all-rounder Josh Doherty said his side will focus on batting out the remaining 18 overs of its innings before thinking about pushing for a second innings result.
“Batting out the rest of our overs is really important, we know the situation and any more bonus points we can get ourselves are very valuable,” Doherty said.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves so that’s the first-up focus for us, making sure we’re playing positive but patient cricket and setting ourselves up in a position of strength are important.
“Then we’d let ourselves start considering pushing for an outright victory.”
Centrals will be without Nick Dunlop, however Charlie Mortimer and Nick Sharp come back into the side.
Batting out the rest our overs is really important ... we don't want to get ahead of ourselves.
- Cavaliers all-rounder Josh Doherty
“They still have a lot of danger men without Dunny. Dean Turner with the bat mainly and Daryl Kennewell with the ball. Deano ripped us apart last week without looking like getting out and Dazza is just getting better with age, which is surprising for such an old bloke,” Doherty giggled, taking a light-hearted stab at his representative skipper.
Turner smashed 70 last week before being run out, his and Will Oldham’s (22) innings’ were Centrals’ only digs of any substance.
Chris Martin (3-31) and Harry Pearce (2-12) were Cavaliers’ best bowlers last weekend.
Play resumes at Country Club Oval at 1pm.