MIX OF KNOCKS SETS UP MURGHE
A REARGUARD partnership from Asher Hart and Jason Grozdanovski has put Murgheboluc in the box seat against Marshall.
In trouble at 4-72, import Hart and allrounder Grozdanovski went to work, crafting a 119-run stand as the Frogs gained the upper hand at King Lloyd Reserve.
“It’s a pretty decent wicket, to be honest,” Murgheboluc captain Dan Grozdanovski said.
“Batting first, you always hope to get a nice big score, and it worked out to be the case.
“After the break was always going to be the key, and we walked into the break at 4-77 and then Jason and Asher had that big partnership and it set the game up.
“To get 280 is really competitive. Par at Murghe is about that 240 mark — and to get that little bit more is a bonus, really.”
The Frogs’ skipper said the Bears had the upper hand until No.6 Hart (78) and Jason Grozdanovski (72) turned the match on its head.
“We lost two wickets near the break and they had to reset the innings,” Dan Grozdanovski said.
“We spoke before the game that Asher hasn’t had a big opportunity to bat time and to really show how capable he is, and that knock really showed the top-quality player he is.
“I think he’s going to be a really good bat for us for the rest of the season. He set the innings up, he didn’t play any silly shots and he’s a topnotch batsman.”
Jason Grozdanovski rode his luck early before producing a vital innings.
“It was a bit interesting to start off,” Dan Grozdanovski said.
“I even think Jase would say the same thing; it’s the least comfortable I’ve seen him at the crease for a while. It was one of those days where he was swinging and things weren’t going his way, but he wasn’t going out.
“He played a few reckless shots, but once he got past 30 he set his innings up and he looked a lot more comfortable and the rest of his hitting was quality.
“At the break we were 4-77 and at drinks we were 5-190, so to go at sixan-over for 20-odd overs was pretty good.”
With 85 overs to restrict Marshall, Dan Grozdanovski knows his bowlers must apply pressure.
“We’re halfway there and we spoke about that after the game,” he said.
“Yes, we’ve made 280, but we spoke about how we got complacent against St Peter’s with runs on the board and we didn’t bowl our best and they pushed us close. So we spoke about how important it is to have the week to reassess where we’re at and come out and bowl well.
“We want to attack hard and make sure they don’t make those runs because they do have a lot of quality bats in that side.”