All-round display puts leader to the sword
WINCHELSEA is on the cusp of announcing itself as the top side in the A2 competition, after producing a commanding performance with bat and ball against Queenscliff.
The Blues need 71 runs next week to snatch top spot, after tight bowling and fine fielding set up a dominant day for coach Mitch Troy’s men.
“We bowled really well, great lines and got them making mistakes,” Troy said.
The match-up between first and second did not get its full justice, with ladder-leader Queenscliff without opener and leading run-scorer Toby Smith, as well as batting a player short with Tom Kidd unable to bat.
Winchelsea capitalised with the ball, while a pair of early run-outs did not help Queenscliff’s cause, teetering at 4-49.
Knowing middle-order batsmen Tim Frankenburg and Shane Healey were crucial elements to remove to break through to the Queenscliff tail, Troy praised his side’s dogged bowl- ing performance to grab the two important scalps for the relative cheap return of 11 and 31.
“We knew we had to get through their middle order. Their middle order has been making a lot of runs for them,” he said.
“Everyone (stood out) actually with the ball. We all bowled really well.”
Opening bowler Riley Berg grabbed his second wicket when he trapped Lachie Kidd lbw for 20, giving Queenscliff’s tail a tough job at 6-93.
The tail wagged to 128 and meant Winchelsea had 14 overs at the end of the day to eat into the target required.
Jamie Doyle turned pinch-hitter at the top of the order, blasting a quick-fire 43 as Winchelsea closed play well on top on 1-58.
“We’re missing Jamie (Doyle) next week with work commitments, so we put him up the top and waited to see if it would pay off and it did,” Troy said.
The plan next week is clear-cut for Troy: “Just bat the day, just bat the day.
“We’ll get a lot more confidence batting as long as we can rather than trying to go for (outright) and 10 points.”