Duo all class in Tigers’ triumph
TORQUAY captain-coach Ash Russell has praised the performances of Mike Jones and Joel Kitchen as the pair guided the Tigers to their third straight win over Marshall on Saturday.
Set 214 for victory at South Barwon Reserve, Torquay got out of the gates quickly with Jones (86) and Tommy Henderson (15) steering their side to 0-56 before Henderson was knocked over by Kal Dubbeldam. It sparked a mini-collapse and on the back of a fine spell from Brad Greenwood (3-19) it saw the visitors slide to 3-66 and had Marshall up and about. But Kitchen’s arrival at the crease turned things around instantly, with the 119-run fourthwicket stand seemingly ending the Bears’ hopes of a win.
Russell said the efforts of Jones and Kitchen (75) had undoubtedly turned the game on its head. “It was huge,” Russell said. “We started really well but then Greenwood came on and as he does bowled pretty tight and they pegged it back.
“Joel came in straight away and scored really easily and that took a lot of pressure off Mike. They batted really well together and that was a crucial partnership.
“Joel nearly caught Mike, that’s how well he was scoring, so that was a super effort … it was really pleasing to see him get some success and it was a crucial innings.” Earlier, Marshall failed to put enough pressure on Torquay’s bowlers in its innings, despite the best efforts of Mitch McCoach, who stood out with his unbeaten 95.
But the Bears’ total of 213 always felt as though it was 20 runs short and it proved to be the case, with Torquay hitting the winning runs in the 49th over.
The victory puts the Tigers in the box seat to stay inside the top four heading into the Christmas break, which Russell said would give his team a genuine boost ahead of a tough run of two-day matches in 2018.
“We’re definitely on the improve and I think everything — our bowling, batting, fielding — is clicking,” he said.
“As long as we can keep up this momentum, anything can happen. It’s great going into Christmas with a bit of momentum.”