Celtic favoured to claim crown
Biddy Kate’s Celtic are hot favourites to claim the the 2017-18 Marlborough cricket season’s first available silverware.
The unbeaten Celts will meet Sileni Estates Renwick in the SBS Bank 50-over final at Horton Park tomorrow.
Although Renwick are worthy finalists, who forced their way into the trophy decider with a couple of hard-fought wins over Wairau Valley and Wairau on consecutive weekends, their last effort against their final opponents was one they would rather forget.
In the first round of the short competition, on October 21, Celtic’s twin spin attack of Josh Poole and veteran Petros Kapralos combined to completely undo Renwick’s batting.
Kapralos finished with the staggering figures of five wickets for just one run from 2.2 overs while Poole picked up 3-14 from six as Renwick were dismissed for 84. Celtic blasted their way to victory in just 14.2 overs.
Unsurprisingly, Kapralos, who plays regularly for the Celtic second grade side, is recalled to the club’s flagship side for the final, his addition boosting a powerful all-round line-up.
Skipper Jerrym Lamb leads the batting alongside John Porter, Ben Blackman, who scored 91 last Saturday, Landon Neal, Poole and Andy Fitzpatrick.
The bulk of the Celtic side boast plenty of big match experience, with Matt McCormick, fresh off an impressive performance for the
Jerrym Lamb (captain), John Porter, Ben Blackman, Josh Poole, Landon Neal, Andy Fitzpatrick, Reuben Kepes, Matt McCormick, Jack Holdaway, Gandharv Sharma, Petros Kapralos.
Luke Frankland (captain), Hayden Gaudin, Keiran Gaudin, Mark Zillwood, Jason Campbell, Corey Bovey, Iain Charles-Jones, Dustin EmmsHealey, Prabodha Arthavidu, Richie Dickens, Sam Solly. reps on Sunday, spear heading the pace bowling stocks.
Their opponents quickly shrugged off their first-up defeat and are finding form at just the right time.
Although their batsmen struggled initially, they have come right, chasing down testing totals through disciplined batting.
Against Wairau last weekend, a superb 134-run partnership between skipper Luke Frankland and Marlborough Cricket development manager Prabodha Arthavidu set up their victory, allowing confidence to flow through their ranks.
Much will be expected of those two players, along with regulars Jason Campbell, Mark Zillwood, Dustin Emms-Healey and the Gaudin brothers, Keiran and Hayden, if Renwick are to achieve a decent total.
The timely return of allrounder Corey Bovey from overseas is another bonus, the talented youngster able to turn a game with both bat and ball.
He, along with Campbell, Emms-Healey, Keiran Gaudin, Arthavidu and Iain Charles-Jones form a steady attack that opposing teams underestimate at their peril.
The game begins at 11.30am on Horton Park 1. Sunday is a reserve day for the final if bad weather intervenes.