CRICKET
CGCA
Yallourn Nth v Moe
ANDREW Philip’s superb century has given the Lions’ bowling attack a decent total to defend in Central Gippsland cricket.
Sam Price and Jayden Mathison will partner up with the new ball, and early wickets will be at a premium.
Josh Keyhoe has been in poor form recently and will be targeted.
His foil Aidan Vesty is a calm presence at the top of the order, and if he plays a long innings the Bombers are in with a big chance.
Yallourn North only needs to score at just above 3.2 runs per over and could canter home if it preserves wickets.
Thorpdale v Morwell
THE Blues are in deep trouble at 6/52 and with mainstay Harvey Poole already back in the sheds, the most Thorpdale can do in this game is bat for as long as possible and limit Morwell’s time to chase first innings points.
Steven Hibbs has had a disappointing year since transferring from Newborough, and a lengthy stay at the crease here could well be the confidence booster he needs to kick on again next season.
James Durkin will resume alongside Hibbs and will be looking to survive as he continues to develop at the top level.
For Morwell, Brendan Brincat has four wickets so far and will doubtless bowl the first spell.
Brandon McDonald, Dylan Day and Shane Gniel all wait in the wings if he is unable to get the job done.
The Tigers will then need to score quickly to be sure of the points and perhaps set themselves up to have another bowl in the evening session.
With a batting lineup boasting names like Craig Giddens, Mark Cukier, Brincat and Robert Fox, as well as import Riyaz Pathan, Morwell should have little trouble closing out this game.
Latrobe v Trafalgar
WITH this game being played on Saturday and Sunday a tough slog is in store for Country Week players Jackson Noonan and Rhys Holdsworth, who scored a century in round one.
Holdsworth is the key bat for the Ships, and Latrobe’s pace attack of Brendan Evans, Ash Halkett, Mitch Cowell and Anthony Bloomfield will be keen to see the back of him as cheaply as possible.
Trafalgar could well struggle on turf and will be especially vulnerable to the spin of Patrick Farrant, especially if they bat second.
Bloomfield and Justin Vajler is an imposing top order combination but the latter has been short of runs and is the key weak point that the Ships bowlers will be keen to exploit.
Aiden George and Chris Robinson are the other key bats for the visitors but beyond that the batting card looks slightly anaemic.
If Klay Butler and James Blaser are available then Trafalgar can mix it with the best in the league but without them they are unlikely to score enough runs to remain competitive.
