Split-round option

The next round of Grampians Cricket Association is a oneday fixture with clubs having the option of either playing on Saturday or on January 6.

Officials believe the round will be split. Regardless of when it’s played, the main game will be between Aradale and Youth Club at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval.

Scores have been low at Alexandra Oval, so the contest might become a battle between the respective batsmen as to who will take the points.

A win to Aradale will see it leapfrog the Clubbers, and a win to Youth Club will see it keep right on the heels of ladder-leader Swifts-great Western.

Aradale’s Scotty Turner is having a great season with the bat and supported by Riley Wood and Tyler Cronin will look to post a competitive score. This will allow bowlers Brent Tate and Travis Horvertek to apply pressure to the Clubbers.

Youth Club will rely on openers Angus Barham and Damon Folkes to weather the storm, and permit Koby Stewart and Nic Baird to get at Aradale’s second-string bowlers.

The Clubbers in turn will look to Folkes, Cam Kimber and Clinton Slorach to restrict Aradale’s batsmen.

It is of note that in an earlier match the Clubbers inflicted Aradale’s only loss for the season thus far.

Navarre hosts Buangor at Navarre, and as Buangor has just made the four, it will be out to consolidate its position.

Navarre’s form so far suggests Buangor will have too much talent for the Grasshoppers.

Navarre can be expected to put up a stern fight, but in the end Buangor might have too much depth of talent.

Jessie and Tom Hannett are Navarre’s leading batsmen, but all too often they lack the support required for a good score.

Spinners Lachy Oddie and Chris Jerram will be the bowlers most likely to do the damage. Buangor’s Jerram, Jacob Bates and Jack Ganley are the batsmen Navarre must dismiss cheaply if it is to have a chance. Stawell’s Central Park will see Pomonal attempt to halt Swifts-great Western’s winning streak.

Lee Oliver and Matt Grinham have the task of restricting the Combine’s powerful batting line-up.

Openers James Devery and Sam Cocks are having a good season, and Ricky Peters has the Bradman-like average of 99.67, and with Travis Nicholson and Tom Eckel make for a lot of hard work for the Tigers’ bowlers.

The Combine boasts Matt Heffer, 18 wickets so far, and Jon Parkin, 13, who have consistently taken wickets each game, so the Tigers’ upper order of Luke Jordan, Clayton Mackley and Sam Spark will be under the pump.

Halls Gap again travels to Tatyoon, where the hosts, having just been dumped from the four, will be anxious for a win to keep their finals aspirations alive.

While it was an improved effort from the Gappers last game, in their minds will be their last effort at Tatyoon, when they were beaten outright.