Middle order sets up victory

GEELONG has solidified its spot in the top eight thanks to a four-wicket win over Ringwood on Saturday.

The Cats were set 267 after opener Tom Rogers blasted 114 for the Rams, and reached the total in the final over.

Middle-order pair Tom Jackson (70 not out) and Tyler Larkin (70, below) put on 94 for the fifth wicket to move Geelong from 4-152 to 5-246, with Larkin belting eight fours and a six from just 53 balls.

Jackson, who played the anchor role at the opposite end, praised his partner’s stroke play and said the win came at a crucial time.

“It was good to get the win and it was a pretty close game,” Jackson said.

“Tyler Larkin probably played the matchwinning knock and I just batted around him.

“He did all the hard yards and I pretty much got the message to bat through and be there at the end. Tyler came out and he played the best knock I have seen him play.

“All the boys are pretty pumped and it is a big month for us to try to get a good spot in the eight and then see what happens.”

Jackson’s knock could not have come at a better time following reports Victorian selectors were considering a shift in its Sheffield Shield team.

But the young gun said his focus was only on things within his control.

“I don’t really look into that too much,” he said. “Whatever I play I just try to get runs and whatever happens will happen. I don’t read too much into who is going to be playing where or anything like that, I just try to have an influence and help my team get the win.”

Rogers’ knock was the fifth time in seven games an opposition player has reached triple figures against Geelong, and came from just 120 balls.

Jackson, who is no stranger to scoring centuries at Premier level, said sometimes you simply had to acknowledge rival batsmen would have days out.

“Sometimes you just have to sit back and say ‘well played’,” he said.

“I think every game you play there is going to be a good partnership and whatever the total we are chasing is, we just back ourselves no matter what because we know our batting line-up is pretty strong.

“So we always go in pretty confident and we knew whatever we had to chase we could do it.”

The Cats now take on Casey-South Melbourne at Geelong on Australia Day.