‘We stuffed it up’: Rovers’ captain
CRICKET A HAPLESS all-round performance from Rovers has skipper Tom Lever delving back into his kit bag of tricks.
United showed up the preseason fancies for their first win of the season with four balls to spare at Griffiths Park 2 on Saturday after James How and Matt Robertson wreaked havoc in the middle overs.
Rovers were cruising at 1-109 before losing 4-3 in an epic collapse with 15 overs remaining in what Lever termed a lack of respect for the state of the game.
“We stuffed it up,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we were cruising, but we were well placed and then we lost those four wickets in five overs.
“All credit to United, they did bowl well, but I just figure at that part of the game if you lose a wicket you really need to dig in a bit, but we just didn’t respect it.”
The disappointing end to the innings snowballed into their attempt to defend the total of 154, which was about “20 to 30 runs short” by Lever’s reckoning.
“We had a few extras and it just wasn’t good enough. We didn’t do the one percenters, dropped a few catches and ended up missing a stumping on a guy who got 20 ... and it was all our fault,” he said.
United captain Cameron Davis said it was a big boost for his youthful side to win a grinding game of cricket and get off the mark for 2017-18.
Young opening bat Kai Stuchbery anchored the chase with aplomb, while 16-year-old Michael Brookes stepped up in a pressure situation to hit the winning runs.
“It was just an all-round effort.
“No one really stood out, although we did have Michael Raso score 42.
“Kai did a great job holding up an end and Michael kept the score ticking over up the other end.
“He’s one of the most experienced cricketers in Cairns and to have him come in at No. 4 is great for us.”
Davis said the composure shown during the chase was a change from previous seasons. He expected it would only get better next week when Linden March returns from Fusion duty and Kieren Gibbs will be available for selection.
“Over the last couple of years we’ve had a bit of trouble in chases, so hopefully we can build on what we started on Saturday,” he said.
WE HAD A FEW EXTRAS AND IT JUST WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH. WE DIDN’T DO THE ONE PERCENTERS ... AND IT WAS ALL OUR FAULT