Hughes key to Lara’s finals push

THE importance of Andy Hughes contribution to Lara’s finals aspirations was further magnified when the classy opener combined with Brad McMaster (94) for an outstanding 121-run opening stand against Murgheboluc.

The union laid the foundation to the Cats’ 9-279.

Hughes took his season’s haul to 381 with 72, comprised of 12 fours and a six, before Michael Grozdanovski effected the run out of the prolific scorer. McMaster plundered 13 boundaries, but missed his maiden first X1 century when he chopped on to Jason Grozdanovski.

“They applied themselves really well,” Lara coach Daniel Weigl said. “They pushed singles from the decent balls and then when the bad balls came they put them away.”

Englishman Tom Cullen (44) and accumulator Rob Sodomaco (40) continued the momentum to carry the host to 3-265, before the Frogs were able to apply the brakes, capturing 6-14.

“We would have liked 300, but 280 is still a really good score and gives us enough to defend and if we bowl well enough we should win,” Weigl said.

“Our tail didn’t bat well enough with the set batsmen, we probably cost ourselves another 20 runs.

“But we see it as a great learning experience for a really young side.”

Jason Grozdanovski reaped the rewards of his marathon 25-over spell to finish with 5-73.