After a big week, Doherty's next goal is a Royal Hotel Cup win with Cavaliers

Dubbed a rock by skipper Stu Middleton after compiling 74 to help Cavs chase down 242 against Orange City, the lanky right-hander then smashed 50 in Orange’s representative victory over Mudgee on the road during the Mitchell Cricket Council’s opening colts clash of the summer.

“I’m going alright,” Doherty said.

“It’s probably about time I pulled my finger out.

“I’ve been working hard for a long time now so it’s nice to see that paying off, but it’s still only two tiny scores.”

Equally adept at taking the new ball for Cavaliers, Doherty said tactics won’t change with the bat when the maroons tackle a largely-luckless Centrals outfit tonight at Wade Park.

“Not really, you’ve still got to take the ones and keep turning the strike over,” he said.

“I’m naturally a little aggressive, but I think people get too caught up in trying to go too big too often. 

“You’ve got to find that balance and still plenty of good cricket shots.”

Tonight’s Twenty20 clash is the second for both Cavaliers and Centrals, and both will be looking for their first win of the Royal Hotel Cup season following first-up losses to Cowra and Kinross respectively.

After storming to last year’s title following nigh-on perfect Twenty20 cricket in both the semi-final then final, Cavs still have plenty of time to find form in 2014-15.

“There would be something wrong if we started the Twenty20 stuff well early on ... we’ve left our run pretty late the last couple of seasons but come good at the right time,” Doherty said.

“But last game was one we probably should have won.”

Despite being winless in the T20 format, he said Cavs are wary of a Centrals team containing plenty of fire power.

“No wins in two years, I don’t think that does them any justice,” Doherty added.

Tonight’s game begins at 6.30pm at Wade Park.