Sport
23 February, 2023
Owls looking for quick start to second day of play
Maryborough’s chances of hosting a home final hinges on tomorrow’s day of play against Beaufort. Put simply, the Owls must attempt to win outright if they are to have any chance of hosting a home semi-final. The Owls currently sit three points...
Maryborough’s chances of hosting a home final hinges on tomorrow’s day of play against Beaufort.
Put simply, the Owls must attempt to win outright if they are to have any chance of hosting a home semi-final.
The Owls currently sit three points in arrears of Colts Phelans on the ladder, and with Colts every chance of defending their total of 234 against Clunes, an outright result is most likely the only way the Owls can take second on the ladder ahead of the final round of the season, where they’ll have a bye.
The agenda tomorrow will be to score at a quick rate. Maryborough have done so in the recent past, and were able to score 87 runs in the final 27 overs of last Saturday’s play, with Martin Dell taking charge by scoring 52.
They’ll start play with Zac McLeod on 18 not out and Ben Hoban 11 not out, with considerable star power still in the sheds.
The likes of Sam Bartlett and Mitch McClure have shown that they can score runs at an unbelievable rate, while Lachlan Morganti has really come into his own in two-day cricket, and will still be on a high after his figures of 8/56 last week.
But it takes two to tango, and the Crows will also be looking for quick wickets in order to take first innings points and end the Owls’ hopes of picking up that all-important home semi-final.
Lachlan Oddie has been the pick of the Crows this season, and again proved just how valuable he is last Saturday, scoring an excellent 54 with the bat — their first half-century this season — before wresting back a little bit of control when he was handed the ball, bowling three maidens and taking Dell’s wicket in five overs, conceding just five runs in the process.
David Morse has also bowled well so far, with the Owls taking just 12 runs off his five overs with the ball.
Craig Grant provided some good support with the bat, scoring 21 runs, and will be called upon from behind the stumps again tomorrow.
It will be interesting to see what the response could be from the Owls if the Crows take a couple of early wickets tomorrow, and when McClure and Bartlett could make an appearance at the crease.
Either way, expect some fireworks at Goldfields Recreation Reserve tomorrow afternoon.