After a first-up thumping at the hands of the powerhouse ACT Aces, that’s what the South Coast Crew will have to produce in this weekend’s Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash Thunder Conference carnival at Orange.

The Aces made absolute mince meat of the Crew last month, South Coast hobbled to 75 and the ACT ran it down with nine wickets and 14 overs in hand.

Considering any side that finishes the pool unbeaten will be guaranteed progression to the finals at the SCG on December 10 and its abysmal net run rate of -8.57, South Coast will need to win both its games this weekend by monstrous amounts and then hope other results fall its way.

Logic and recent history suggests the side’s first game of the weekend, against Central West at Wade Park from 9.30am on Sunday morning, is a good chance to keep its campaign alive.

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The Crew faces reigning champions Orana on Sunday afternoon, from 1.30pm at Riawena Oval, in its second must-win game.

The South Coast side features four of Shoalhaven District Cricket Association’s top players in Michael Parry, Kyle Jarrett, Connor Hawkins and Carl Lang, with a number of the remainder coming from Illawarra.

The winner of this weekend’s Thunder Conference Orange pool will join the Newcastle Blasters and Wagga Wagga Sloggers in the semi-finals, the fourth spot will go to the Coffs Coast Chargers, Macquarie Coast Stingers, Northern Inland Bolters and Northern Rivers Rock.

With rain around, the question of what happens in the event of a washed-out weekend considering the ACT has moved to the top of the group with their win over South Coast has arisen.

Section 19.3 of the competition’s playing conditions addresses that exact issue, and states that ”if matches are played at separate locations and on separate dates and matches at either location are weather affected, then 50 per cent of total pool matches must be completed to determine a winner of the pool”.

It goes on to say that “if less than 50 per cent are completed, then the side to progress to the conference final is the highest finishing side from last season. If those positions are equal, the side with the overall highest run rate from the previous season will progress”.

That means just two of six games – with five overs minimum for both sides – must be completed to fulfill that minimum 50 per cent, while if the latter situation arises, Orana will progress.