Just like that, Kinross has rocketed right back into the Orange District Cricket Association finals frame.
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Although largely considered to be little chance of sneaking into the post-season prior to last weekend’s easy win over Centrals Kinross are now, mathematically, a genuine chance of jumping from fifth to third in the season’s final round.
The students are still last but thanks to Saturday’s 111-run win over the red and blacks Kinross now trails Centrals by just 1.92 points and is only another 6.72 behind third-placed CYMS.
As such, if Kinross picks up a big first innings win over CYMS and Orange City does the same against Centrals, the students should jump up to third, and definitely would with an outright victory.
“It was a great win, there was a lot of very pleased guys after the game,” Kinross skipper Fletcher Rose said, before admitting he won’t be sweating too hard on stealing third spot from CYMS.
“We always have the aspiration to play finals cricket but, you know, looking back on the rest of the season we haven’t played well enough to make the finals so if we do happen to do that it will definitely be a bonus for us.
“I think first we’ll be focused on just trying to get the win against CYMS and if we do happen to make it in there, great, if we don’t then we’ll be happy with a win to finish the season off.”
On Saturday, Kinross well and truly capitalised on the strong position it had worked its way to the week before.
Centrals started the day in real trouble at 2-3 and the situation never improved over the next 63 overs.
Wickets fell and they fell consistently as the red and blacks fell for just 134, with only Kurt Gander (80) seriously troubling the scorers.
It was a great win, there was a lot of very pleased guys after the game.
- Kinross skipper Fletcher Rose
Kinross’ rout was led by Gus Cumming, who snared 4-47 from his 20 overs, while Charlie Greer (3-27) and Rose (3-28) both bowled superbly for their multiple wickets as well.
Saturday’s second day finished off excellent games for both Greer and Rose, the duo punched out 69 and 36 respectively with the bat to set the two blues up for victory on day one.
“Charlie and Gus both had really good days with the ball, actually it’s probably the best I’ve seen Gus bowl this season so he deserved those handful of wickets,” Rose said of his off-spinner, who moved into the competition’s top-five wicket-takers with the haul.
“He just tied down one end for basically the entire innings, really nagged away at their off stump and just didn’t give them anything, he was very good.”
Incredibly Centrals will also be hoping Kinross can down CYMS next weekend, that result is crucial to the red and blacks’ finals hopes as well.
If the students can defeat the green and golds then a win over competition leaders Orange City should be enough for Centrals to slide into third – assuming both those wins are first innings only.
Next weekend’s final round is a Saturday-Sunday two-day game.