NYAH DISTRICT v WOORINEN
NYAH District and Woorinen will reignite their rivalry this Saturday afternoon, with the Tigers no doubt desperate to atone for their loss to the Demons in the Kookaburra Cup grand final a fortnight ago.
Charlie Boulton and Mitchell Grinham gave Nyah District the perfect start to the one-day decider when they combined for a 94-run opening stand with the bat.
It will be with the ball where the Tigers will be hoping for improvement, with early breakthroughs the key for the visitors if they are to reverse the result of two weeks ago.
Guri Singh, Robert Rush and Darren Rushton are the key players for Woorinen in that department, along with Lachlan Rushton, who bowled 12 tight overs for just one wicket in last Saturday’s 65-run loss to Wandella.
There’s little doubt that the Tigers strength lies with the bat, which Nyah District have already seen first hand earlier this season as Woorinen chased down the Demons first innings total of 207 back in Round 4.
Nyah District let themselves down with the ball on that occasion, with Dean Morpeth (72) and Darren Rushton (70) smashing the Demons attack to every corner of the Woorinen Rec. Reserve that afternoon.
The challenge this time around, as it was two weeks ago, will be in how the Tigers aggressive batting style lines up against Nyah District’s tight line and length bowling attack, with Joel Walsh, Ben Shadbolt, Max Thompson and Nash Richman giving very few loose balls away in the Kookaburra Cup grand final which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two clubs.
RSL v ULTIMA-TUF
THE path to this year’s SHDCA finals series will get a lot tougher for one of RSL or Ultima-TUF, with both clubs in desperate need of the six points ahead of Saturday’s must-win clash.
Both clubs are coming off difficult losses last Saturday, with the Blues proving no match for Nyah District in an eight wicket defeat and the Roodogs unable to chase down Barham-Koondrook’s target of 146.
Those results have already dented both teams finals chances, with RSL (sixth) and Ultima-TUF (fifth) now outside the top four after strong starts to the season.
With both clubs facing tough runs home, a loss will almost certainly eliminate them from the race, which should ensure a hotly contested affair at Gurnett Oval on Saturday.
Having made just 105 against the Demons last Saturday, the challenge will be there for the Blues batting line-up to post a more competitive total and give their bowling attack a target to defend.
Stuart Patterson (47) and Paul Munro (27) were the only RSL batters who posed any real danger last Saturday and will need more assistance from their teammates if they are to challenge the Roodogs.
Star opener Ryan Hinton, who missed last Saturday’s game against the Demons, would be a massive inclusion if he returns, having scored an unbeaten century against Ultima-TUF in the final red ball game of the season last year.
With the head-to-head record standing at one win apiece this season, very little is expected to separate either side in a contest that should go down to the closing overs.
