Kitchen heats up in time for finals
TORQUAY co-coach Clinton Place says his side will take plenty of confidence out of its dead-rubber match against Manifold Heights.
The Tigers compiled an imposing 9-277 off their 85 overs, with Joel Kitchen finally breaking through to post an unbeaten 103.
The unassuming batsman had been knocking down the door with eight scores between 17 and 42, as well as an innings of 75, before crafting his first ton for Torquay.
“He just accumulates, really,” Place said of Kitchen.
“He goes about it all the right ways. He’s hard to get out, but he definitely does all the right things. He knows his game so all the balls in his scoring zone, he definitely doesn’t miss out.”
Torquay has looked unfazed with the departure of star Mike Jones, who is currently playing one-day cricket for Scotland in Dubai, finding plenty of avenues to a big score.
“We’d definitely love him in the side but ... Tommy Henderson has stood up in his ab- sence,” Place said. “We put Paul Burchell up to No.3 — he hasn’t had many hits this year — and he contributed pretty well.”
Place said there was plenty to take out of the match, despite his side effectively locked in fourth spot on the ladder.
“Time in the middle is what we were talking about; we wanted to bat all day and post a good score,” he said.