WITH another double-header day in the McDonald’s T20 competition looming, a number of highly ranked teams are set to face off against one another.
One of the main players on Saturday will be the third-placed Beverford Tavern Demons, who on the back of dual wins last Saturday will face off against both the Stihl Shop Roodogs (fourth) and Pizza Kitchen Tigers (second).
Both matches loom as must win encounters for the Demons if they want to challenge for a top two spot and a first grand final appearance since the competition’s inception.
Their match-up against the Tigers will be the key for their hopes of a grand final berth.
The two sides have plenty of history in recent seasons, having faced off in the last two SHDCA A Grade deciders.
Both match up very evenly with both bat and ball and have match-winners they can count on.
For the Tigers, Cooper Fox has been in great touch with the bat so far this season, while Glenn Violi and new recruit Dylan Smythe both produced strong performances last weekend against the Tyrell Cricket Swans with 67 and 35 respectively.
Their depth with the ball is also a strength, with Guri Singh, Robert Rush, Stefan Mangiameli, Violi and Smythe all capable of not only taking wickets, but restricting their opposition to a chasable target.
However, they will need to be at their best against the Demons, who also found form with the bat last Saturday.
Charlie Boulton guided them home against the Swans with an unbeaten 58, while Dean Harrop did likewise with 70 not out in the victory over Autobarn Wandella – and if star all-rounder Joel Walsh can find form with the bat, it will put the Demons in a very good position to push for the six points.
The Tigers’ first match will be against the Phones R Us Blues, who have been well served so far this season by Ryan Hinton with the bat, but are probably needing more of a contribution from the rest of their top and middle order. There are signs of improvement, with Brenton Caldwell finding form against the WDEA Works Saints and Stuart Patterson playing an important cameo, belting 23 runs off 13 balls in the last-ball loss to the Roodogs.
Proving to be head and shoulders above the rest at this early stage of the competition, the Saints were undefeated after their first three games and appear early favourites.
With their strong performances with both bat and ball, coupled with a bye first up on Saturday, which will have them fresh and ready to go, a win against the Swans should be expected.
The Swans are improving, but are still a work in progress and will have their work cut out for them against both the Saints and Wandella.
Wandella were a touch unlucky not to get the points against the Demons last Saturday, after putting in a strong performance with the bat in chasing a target of 158, but now need everything to go right to have a chance of finishing in the top two.
They will also face off against the Roodogs in their second match of the afternoon, which should be a tight affair as very little separates the sides on paper.
The Roodogs’ big strength is with the bat, while Wandella’s strength lies with the ball and their pace attack led by Ryan Barnes and Bohden McKnight.
Key to success for Wandella will be early wickets and putting pressure on the Roodogs’ hard-hitting middle order of Mitch Seton-Stewart, Kade Benfield and Josh Waldron.
It will be the same challenge that will face the Demons in their first game against the Roodogs, along with restricting Ben Shepherd at the top of the order.
With the Saints already guaranteed six points courtesy of the bye in round 4, they should find themselves in the box seat to be the first team through to the grand final – while the best of the rest will most likely have to wait another week.
