Young gun sets up Tigers’ win
TORQUAY captain-coach Ash Russell lauded the performance of talented young batsman Mike Jones as the Tigers moved within striking distance of the top four with a 40run win over Manifold Heights.
Jones, who has crafted three halfcenturies in four matches this season, stroked a brilliant 104 in Torquay’s second straight win.
“He’s a class act. He’s as good as they come,” Russell said of Jones.
“He’s got all the time in the world and he’s got a lot of patience, so it’s exciting coming into two-day cricket when he’s got more time.
“I can see him making big hun- dreds batting all day.” The righthanded opening batsman struck 10 boundaries and a six, combining with No.3 Joel Kitchen for a 95-run stand.
“It was a very good partnership,” Russell said.
“To their (Manifold Heights’) credit, they pegged us back and they tried to fly through the overs in the middle and they do a great job.
“I thought at times the boys might have lost their heads but they stuck at it.”
Batting on a flat wicket at Spring Creek Reserve, the Tigers set the Sharks an imposing total to chase.
And the visitors started poorly, losing 3-38.
But captain-coach Chris Bambury came to the rescue, belting an unbeaten 88 to keep his side in the hunt.
“I was a bit worried, definitely,” Russell said of Bambury’s ability to take the game away from the Tigers.
“He’s a class player and we weren’t bowling too well to him. I thought we could have executed our plans a little bit better and we didn’t bowl well to the short boundaries.
“He’s a good player and has his zones and we knew where not to bowl, but we still fed him.
“I thought at times ‘we need a wicket here’.”
Eventually Torquay broke the crucial partnership between Bambury and Lee Bartlett (33) and the Sharks collapsed to be all out 198 after 49 overs.
Anthony Foord was impressive, overcoming a dropped catch in the first over of the innings to snare 4-25. Co-coach Clinton Place was also on target with the new ball, claiming 2-47 from 10 overs, while Russell chimed in with 2-44.