Sport
25 January, 2024
Massive effort needed for Crows
Zach Graham’s incredible unbeaten 105 last week has given Laanecoorie Dunolly the edge, with the Crows facing a big task to chase a further 233 runs when play resumes. Kriss Ellis and Nick Cushing will resume unbeaten on one and four respectively...
Zach Graham’s incredible unbeaten 105 last week has given Laanecoorie Dunolly the edge, with the Crows facing a big task to chase a further 233 runs when play resumes.
Kriss Ellis and Nick Cushing will resume unbeaten on one and four respectively, and they’ll need to ensure they can stay the course for a good while tomorrow while also scoring runs to give themselves a chance.
The Crows will also have to defy recent history to get the job done on Saturday.
It’s been almost three years since the Crows scored above 200 in an innings, that coming in round 11, 2020/21 against MKM.
But given the form of a number of players, they will be hoping to push Laane’s total all the way.
Lachlan Oddie is continuing his mega season for the Crows, and if he can make 59 runs or more tomorrow, he will be leading both the batting and the bowling charts with three rounds to play, firming as a leading contender for the Ken Gibbs Medal.
Ellis will need to lead the way at the top of the order, having scored two half-centuries this season, while Jack Smith (155 runs) and Shannon Brown (115 runs) have also been handy with the bat.
The thorn in Beaufort’s side is Laane’s incredible bowling diversity, which continues to excel.
Daniel Romeo will be a key in for Laane after missing last game and will loom as one to watch, having enjoyed a great season which yielded 13 wickets to this point, including four against the Crows in the one-day final.
Another who will intrigue is Sergio Rosier. While Rosier has had has struggles with the bat this season, it appears that his appearance in last week’s Sharp Shield representative game has unlocked his full all-round game, having top scored with 69, as well as playing his part opening the bowling, taking a wicket.
Add in the likes of Joe Lovel, who has bowled extremely economically this season, and Graham, who is now one of five players to boast at least 150 runs and 10 wickets for the season, alongside Oddie, Sam Bartlett, Lachlan Morganti and Dave Robinson, and it’s a big task for the Crows.
Laane’s incredible weapons with the ball means there will still be intrigue as to what captain Matt Smith’s preferred bowling strategy will be as push comes to shove for the business end of the season.
It appears he has settled with Graham to hold up one end, while he also has the luxury of picking from Bartlett — who opened against the Crows in the one-day grand final in their last meeting, and Rosier, who opened for Laane two weeks ago when they bowled against Maryborough.