Jan Juc’s bowlers on a mission

JAN Juc captain-coach Ben Grinter says his side will be as determined as ever to take the remaining eight wickets in its clash against Inverleigh at home today.

After setting a mammoth 348 for victory last weekend, Jan Juc has declared its intent to keep its foot on Inverleigh’s throat after failing to defend its total against Barwon Heads last round, and a disappointing display against Anglesea the round before.

“I don’t think there is a chance of complacency, I mean we’ve lost two games that we’ve been disappointed about and I don’t think that a few of the boys internally in our side like losing particularly, so I’m saying that our bowlers will be going out there with every intention to take the eight wickets as quickly as possible,” Grinter said this week.

With such a large total required for victory, Grinter expects Inverleigh to bat aggressively early despite sitting at 2-38.

“It’s a big score to chase and I’m expecting Inverleigh to come out and look to get the runs, so we’re aware that chances may come in the field and we just have to (make sure we) take those chances,” he said.

It was Grinter himself who, along with opener Jared Carr, formed the nucleus of the team’s innings with the bat, as the pair combined for a partnership of 189.

Carr blasted his way to 112 in a swashbuckling innings that was ended by the bowling of Lachlan Platt, in a performance that nothing short of impressed the captain-coach.

“(Carr) was given the opportunity to open and he got us off to a flying start and it was a pretty incredible feeling being out there with a bloke that makes a hundred and does it with ease, it was really impressive to watch . . . he’s a very aggressive batsman,” Grinter said,

Meanwhile, Grinter played a more steady hand in his knock of 117 as he scored his first century of the season.

“It was probably a lot more patient than what I have been in the past but I’m just trying to get out there and do my bit for the side and help us put together a competitive total.”