Grubbers poised for finals chase
TACTICS SWITCH REWARDED
A CHANGE of tactics from the Ocean Grove bowlers has put the Grubbers in the box seat to push for a possible finals berth after a strong opening day against Barrabool.
Needing a win and a Queenscliff loss to Anglesea to make the top four, the Grubbers gave themselves the best possible chance by bowling Barrabool for 126 on Saturday.
Ocean Grove will resume on 0-23 next week, setting the scene for a fascinating final day of the home-andaway season.
“We’ve got 75 overs to make 100 runs, which we know we are able to do with 10 wickets in hand — and we’re really confident,” Grubbers captain-coach Paul Jubber said.
“It’s important to win, because if we don’t, we don’t play finals, and also Anglesea scored 230 against Queenscliff, which will be a challenge for Queenscliff to get those runs.”
Jubber said a change in the bowling lines and focus was the driver of
Saturday’s performance, with all frontline bowlers taking wickets.
The Grubbers have conceded the most runs in BPCA A1, a fact not lost on Jubber.
“We’ve been heavily scored against all season, so we felt we needed to change,” he said.
“It’s effective in taking wickets, but it’s cost us a lot of runs so to adapt and for the bowlers to embrace it was really pleasing.
“It’s just a slightly different line. We’ve bowled a little straight at times and when you do that it’s easy to score all around the wicket.
“We feel we’ve got the balance right now with the ability to attack and defend, and it was really effective.”
Jubber (3-31), Dan Roddis (3-25), Lindon Giuffrida (2-27) and Mick Thornton (1-13) were all on song, with Jubber’s left-arm spin also accounting for Barrabool star and topscorer Kane Pickering (27 off 90).
“Dan Roddis and Lindon Giuffrida were able to come back for second spells, which they haven’t done a lot, and clean up the tail,” Jubber said.
“They (Barrabool) were 0-53, but we still bowled really well and we broke it open and they lost 10-73 which was pleasing.”