ROUND 7 PREVIEW
St Mary’s-Tyntynder v Nyah District
St Mary’s-Tyntynder’s will looking to secure their spot in this year’s Kookaburra Cup grand final when they host Nyah District on Saturday afternoon, in the Kookaburra Cup final round.
Victory would see the Saints guarantee themselves a spot in the decider, while a loss would leave the door open for any combination of Wandella, Woorinen, Ultima-TUF or Nyah District to leapfrog them.
With a healthy percentage courtesy of wins over Swan Hill and RSL, St Mary’s-Tyntynder will be hard to get past as they look to lock away their third straight grand final appearance in the one-day format.
While very little cricket has in fact been played this season due to inclement weather, the Saints and Demons met when the former recorded a comfortable nine-wicket win in the opening round of the T20 competition.
Robin Sebastian was the hero with the ball, tearing through the Demons batting line-up with a four-wicket haul, before Jake Foster (45 not out) and Austin McKerrow (28 not out) guided the home side to victory just one wicket down.
It was a disappointing performance from the reigning premiers and one that they’ll no doubt be desperate to avoid repeating.
The challenge will be setting a winning score against the strong and consistent Saints bowling attack.
St Mary’s-Tyntynder’s ability to tie down an opposition batting side and strangle them with tight bowling sets them apart.
The Demons will no doubt be looking for big contributions from their top and middle order, particularly the aggressive Joel Walsh and Josh Domaille, along with young gun Charlie Boulton at the top.
The Saints are well known for their ability to take the game on with the bat and it’s their aggressive nature that has them widely regarded as the side most capable of a big score in the SHDCA.
However, it get them into trouble at times – such as in last year’s semi final against the Demons – and it’s this element that the visitors will no doubt be looking to exploit.
Ultima-TUF v Wandella
Both Ultima-TUF and Wandella will lock horns at the Alan Garden Reserve, with the winner to keep grand final hopes alive – and the loser likely dropping out of the race completely.
It is a remarkable feat that either side is still in the race for the decider, considering Wandella have played just one game – a two-wicket win against Swan Hill – and Ultima-TUF are yet to even step out onto the field in the Kookaburra Cup due to the cancellation of games through washouts, floods and byes.
Based off last season’s form, this match-up looms as being a very competitive fixture – providing both teams can get close to their full sides on the park.
If the Roodogs are to get the job done at home, it will need to come from their powerful batting line-up.
Ben Shepherd will be the danger man and if he can get his side away to a flyer, they could be very hard to peg back.
Similarly, if Shepherd goes cheaply – or doesn’t play – then it’s hard to see the Roodogs compiling a score against the Bombers’ strong bowling line-up.
Greg Dickson missed Wandella’s only game and should return to the fray, which will only serve to strengthen the middle order.
Dickson’s temperament was sorely missed and his addition should also help bring out the best in Alex Lloyd, Bohden McKnight and former Roodog Kaine O’Connell.
With both teams coming in with a lack of match practice, it’s likely to be the side that settles first and hits the right areas with the ball that will come out on top.
RSL v Woorinen
Woorinen will be happy just to get on the park when they head into town to face RSL at Gurnett Oval – with the Tigers yet to play a match over the first six rounds of the Kookaburra Cup.
The forecast warm and sunny conditions will be a welcome change for most teams, but particularly for Woorinen.
RSL in contrast have played two matches, with a heart-stopping tie against Nyah District in round 4 followed by an 88-run loss to St Mary’s-Tyntynder the following weekend.
Those two results makes it difficult for the Blues to reach the grand final – and although it’s not impossible, they would need results to go their way, while also recording a big win themselves.
Woorinen are, unbelievably, still in the hunt and, while they too would need either St Mary’s-Tyntynder or more likely Wandella to lose, can make the grand final.
With no matches played, the Tigers are hard to get a read on, however they are an extremely proud club who will desperate to get out on the park and bowl a ball in anger for once.
RSL have played two of the league’s better clubs in St Mary’s-Tyntynder and Nyah District.
While they were no match for the Saints, they were more than competitive against the reigning premiers and would fancy their chances against the Tigers.
Their biggest challenge will most likely come with the bat and a need for their top order to fire in order to set a winning total.
Ryan Hinton and Ben Hallam at the top of the order have shown glimpses of form, but they need a bigger contribution from their middle order if they are to challenge Woorinen.
