UNITED CAPTAIN CARRIES BAT
IF Australian selectors are on the lookout for a like-for-like replacement for out-of-sorts opener Matt Renshaw, but with more ponytail, then Cameron Davis is their man.
The United skipper carried his bat against Mulgrave at Griffiths Park yesterday, replicating his feat against the same opponents 12 months ago.
While he raised his bat on that occasion, Davis could only mustered 65 from his 229-ball unbeaten knock, which he said was a necessity after being reduced to 4-38 early.
“I figured I had to bat all day. If I didn’t, they would have gone through us and we would have been in the field,” he said.
“There was a little bit in the wicket and they bowled pretty tight. They didn’t give us much to get away.
“Roach, Matthews and Raper, they just hit good spots and I think I faced about nearly four hours from one end of Roach and Matthews and they were just relentless.
“Two of the best bowlers bowling from one end all day, you’re not going to get much.”
The innings was all the more important as United went into the match without Jarred Koch and star batsman Mick Raso, who is out indefinitely with a back injury.
While Mulgrave captain lauded the patience of Davis, Jacob Stanton questioned whether the slow going was the right move and had even instructed his side to show more intent when they got their chance to chase.
“We’re not going to sort of limp our way there, we’re going to bat the way we bat and show intent when we bat, but there’s certainly something to be said for batting time as well but we don’t have to try to pass it before lunch or anything,” he said.
“Everyone’s itching to get out there. All the batters are really keen to just have time on their side and know if they can get in, there’s runs around the corner and there’s a big innings there.
“Our batters haven’t had a lot of time in the middle but they’ve been practising hard in the nets so we’re just keen to get out there and have a go.
“It’s certainly something they can bowl at for sure.”
Any fans remaining were treated to a thrill late in the day when just Justin Reid produced a one-handed screamer at first slip to dismiss Peter Beal, which Stanton called one of the best catches he’d seen live.
“It was full-stretch, diving right, probably didn’t get more than 20cm above the ground at any time and just stuck in his hand,” Stanton said.
At Loder Park, the battle between Rovers and Atherton is on a knife-edge after both teams were caught out on an uncharacteristically difficult batting deck. After putting on 75 for the first two wickets, the Parnell show of Dan and Luke tore though Rovers’ middle order, with the former nabbing a five-wicket haul. Atherton looked to have the edge after finishing off Rovers for 137, but struggled in a tricky final hour to be 3-13 off 16 over at stumps.