DESPITE his side taking out the minor premiership in the Orange District Cricket Association Limited Overs Cup, Kinross coach Andrew Litchfield shifted the focus to the students’ opponents in the first grade final on Saturday, 2014-15 heavyweights CYMS.
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“(CYMS) have a lot of experienced cricketers in there,” Litchfield said.
“They’re a good side.”
On top of Litchfield’s praise, the green and golds are the reigning Limited Overs Champions, however with an underwhelming history in finals cricket, question marks remain over CYMS’ big-game prowess.
While CYMS scored a massive win over Cavaliers in last year’s final, the green and golds have made 20 finals appearances in the last 10 seasons - in all forms of the game - for just six wins.
That includes eight grand finals, with last year’s Limited Overs Cup triumph the lone victory.
CYMS skipper Hamish Finlayson dismissed the notion history would be a factor in today’s result.
“We have a very different side now, a lot of guys who aren’t aware of that history, and we’re confident all the time,” he said.
“But, Kinross are a great team and have been playing some good cricket of late, so their confidence will also be right up heading into a final.
“They’ve been threatening teams all season, which is great for the Orange competition. We’ll be confident, very confident, but also very wary.”
Kinross on the other hand, has only played three finals since entering the competition in 2007-08 - all in the Royal Hotel Cup, for just one victory.
The students have also never beaten CYMS.
“They’re just happy they get to play in the final,” Litchfield said.
“That was (also) the case against Cavaliers a couple of weeks ago but the boys got a win.
“They’ll handle it well. They’ve played in schoolboy and representative finals before. It’s different playing against seasoned cricketers.
“They’ll give it their best shot.”
Saturday’s clash also promises to be a battle of the big guns, individually, with both sides holding a number players in their respective line-ups who will be crucial to the final result.
CYMS boast fire-power throughout their line-up but have relied heavily on Dave Neil with the bat and Al Dhatt and Western Zone quick Curtis Free with the ball.
In turn, Kinross skipper Charlie Litchfield is a linchpin with willow in hand, while Sam Nicholls’ all-round performance will be a major factor.
The Limited Overs Cup final kicks off at 11am on Saturday at Wade Park.
