SATURDAY looms as a make-or-break afternoon of cricket for cluBarham Raiders, with their McDonald’s T20 grand final aspirations set to go on the line.
The SHDCA newcomers host the T20-undefeated Beverford Tavern Demons in the opening game, before backing up against Autopro Bombers.
Neither side will hold much fear for a Raiders team that beat the Bombers by 52 runs earlier this season and went agonisingly close to doing the same against the Demons in round 1.
While the Raiders started their tournament off with a win against the Tyrrell Cricket Swans last Saturday, captain Jayden Hall knows a far greater challenge awaits his team.
“We’re really excited for this weekend, (the Demons) are probably the benchmark side in my opinion, along with St Mary’s Tyntynder, so we’re really excited to test ourselves in that first game,” Hall told The Guardian.
“The Bombers are equally dangerous, and we were lucky enough to get over the top of them earlier in the season, it was a game that could have gone either way. It’s an old cliche, but we’re taking it one game at a time.
“We know that if we have a good day on Saturday, then a couple of wins would set us up really well in the competition, but we’re not looking any further ahead than that first game.”
Beverford Tavern Demons opener Charlie Boulton comes into the match in form, having peeled off his maiden A Grade century against Stihl Shop Roodogs last weekend, while Joel Walsh and Dean Harrop were also expected to return to help strengthen the batting line-up.
Autopro Bombers will hope for a repeat performance from their formidable batting line-up, with openers Laine Gibbons and Daniel Higgs producing a 151-run partnership against the Roodogs last weekend, while Ethan McKnight smashed an unbeaten 70 in the win over Murrabit.
Hall will be hoping a couple of his aggressive batters return serve on Saturday.
“The Lolicato boys will be key players for us, Garry (Lolicato) is a freak with both bat and ball and ‘Wazza’ (Warren Lolicato) bowled pretty well on the weekend,” Hall said.
“(Warren) is a genuine gun bat and isn’t far away from scoring some big runs, and it would be great to see Chameera (Akurugoda) make a few runs. While it hasn’t been his best season so far, his best is never far away.”
The Raiders will be the Demons’ only game this weekend, having a bye in the following round.
Meanwhile, the Bombers will get the chance to move to the top of the ladder against the Tyrell Cricket Swans in their opening game.
Pizza Kitchen Tigers and Murrabit will also battle it out at Murrabit, while premiership favourites and A Grade ladder leaders Are Able Bulldogs will play Stihl Shop Roodogs.
That match will end a difficult start to the McDonald’s T20 competition for the Roodogs, who will have played the top three sides in their opening three games.
Murrabit will back up against the Phones R Us Blues in their second match of the day, while the Roodogs and Tigers will also lock horns.
