Although plenty of Cavaliers stars put themselves firmly in contention to be crowned player of the final in last weekend’s Orange District Cricket Association grand final win, there was one who stood above the rest.
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Inspirational skipper Matt Corben, who claimed the MVP medal for the second time after also winning the award in the maroons’ 2014-15 victory over Orange City.
He entered the fray with his side on trouble on day one and knocked up a crucial half century and then led from the front in the field, barking orders from behind the stumps, taking one dismissal and displaying a quality of captaincy which defied his lack of experience in the role – this season was his first as the maroons’ leader.
Then, he was at the forefront of Cavaliers’ second innings, holding CYMS’ bowlers out and batting the reigning champions out of the game.
The team winning is the main thing, this is a bonus.
- Grand final MVP Matt Corben
“Hell no,” Corben laughed, when asked if his second MVP medal was any less sweet than the first.
“It is what it is though, I’m pleased to win it but a few other boys probably could’ve won it too. The team winning is the main thing, this is a bonus.”
Corben’s even 50 in the first innings was the catalyst for his side’s total of 172, one which proved more than enough as CYMS fell for 100.
He combined with Josh Doherty (43) in an innings-saving partnership in the first dig and the pair was also, appropriately, unbeaten in the second innings when stumps were pulled. Corben was 23 not out.
“We just wanted to consolidate in that first innings and Joshy and I put on a pretty good partnership,” Corben said.
“In the second dig, I’d told the boys to just play their own game. Johnny (Warrington, who made 35) and I are happy to stick around out in the middle normally, so that’s just what we did.”
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
