Country Thunder Riverina/Western under-14 coach Greg McLay wants to see his side play with freedom on the final day of the Cricket NSW State Challenge after a Twenty20 loss on Wednesday consigned the side to the third-placed playoff.
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The Riverina/Western team, featuring Orange’s George Cumming, downed the highly-touted City Thunder West side in Wednesday’s first match before a tight loss to Country Sixers Northern in the afternoon.
McLay confessed his players started to look a little tired in the second match on Wednesday, but still wants to see a big effort on the final day of the carnival.
“I’d love to see them go out and play with freedom,” McLay said.
“Be aggressive, and I’d like to see them express themselves because there’s a lot of talent in this team.”
Wednesday morning’s match was one of Riverina/Western’s best wins of the week.
Parkes-based captain Harrison Bayliss took 3-16 as City Thunder West was restricted to 6-116 from its 20 overs.
That was still one of the better Twenty20 scores of the day but a mature chase saw the Riverina/Western boys home with seven balls to spare.
Key batsman Tom Coady (36) again did a job while fellow Dubbo bat Koda Sissian made 26 in the four-wicket win.
McLay said it was clear in the short recovery session his side was started to be affected by the heat and a week of cricket.
Albury talent Euriah Hollard to-scored with 27 after his side won the toss and batted against Country Sixers Northern at Lady Cutler 1.
Mikey McNamara and Miles Hemann-Peterson both chimed in with 11 in their side’s total of 7-100 from the 20 overs.
I’d love to see them go out and play with freedom ... I’d like to see them express themselves because there’s a lot of talent in this team.
- Coach Greg McLay
Rivernia/Western was right in the match for most of their time in the field but tailed off late, allowing their Northern rivals to take the advantage.
“We were on top in the game we lost but there was a few errors in the field and maybe there wasn’t enough intensity but to the boys’ credit they fought right to the end,” McLay said.
Northern reached the target with just three balls to spare and will now meet City Thunder West in Thursday’s final.
Riverina/Western finished with the same amount of wins as those two sides but its run rate throughout the week was not as high.
In the under 13s, City Sixers North will meet City Thunder South in the final.
The Riverina/Western side, coached by Bathurst’s Garth Dean, is without a win and will take on City Sixers East on Thursday.