Liam Durkin
CRICKET
CLV A GRADE
By LIAM DURKIN
WHITE balls and coloured clothes will come out for Round 7 in Cricket Latrobe Valley A Grade this Saturday.
A Grade matches were scheduled to start as two day games last weekend, but will now revert to limited overs after Day 1 was washed out.
The situation could naturally make some games tighter, given the lottery element of one day cricket.
A TRARALGON derby sees Traralgon West host Imperials.
Both sides are coming off 250 scores in the longer format, and will be hoping some of this translates as the white ball tends to ping off the bat quicker.
The Eagles could hold an advantage by the fact top order batsman Rami Zafar has got some short form conditioning under his belt, having played a twenty20 for Trafalgar last week.
The right hander played on loan for the Ships in the Warragul District Cricket Association Tuesday night competition, and smashed 58 off 32 balls against Warragul.
The right hander got off the mark with a six, one of five for the night.
Zafar took a particular liking to spinners in that game, so Imperials might want to hold their slow bowlers back while he is at the crease.
Imperials finally got their act together last round with the bat, following a few indifferent weeks.
Dilshan Thilakarathne top-scored with 68 against Gormandale, followed by Anu Meenakshi who made 51.
Meenakshi hit nine fours in that innings, demonstrating his willingness to get on with things, which could prove decisive in determining a winner in this match.
LATROBE is back on the park.
The Sharks are playing just opposite Traralgon West, taking on Gormandale at Stoddart Oval.
Coming back from a break, Latrobe will entertain thoughts of win, especially after their previous outing before the bye.
While the result ended in a heavy loss to Rovers, the Sharks put up 1/156 off 41 overs in their second innings.
Veteran Anthony Bloomfield continues to churn out runs, and scored 81 not out in that match.
His wicket will be one the Tigers will be gearing up to take, and his battle with Gormandale off spinner Yohan Soyza promises to be a key one.
Bloomfield’s footwork against spin is noted, particularly when coming down the track.
Given most batsman at club level are defeated by flight and not so much turn against spin, interest will abound to see just how Soyza goes about his business.
CENTRALS welcomes Willow Grove to Apex Park.
Both sides will be looking to bounce back following average displays.
The Lions were undone by neighbours Traralgon West last game, while the Wolves were asphyxiated by Rovers.
The week off might have allowed Willow Grove the chance to collect their thoughts and recalibrate after ending Day 1 a fortnight ago having surrendered first innings points and then being nearly 200 runs behind making Rovers even bat again.
In his preseason interview with the Express, first year playing-coach Todd Mann said he knew the job at hand was going to be difficult, although it is unlikely even he thought a loss of that magnitude would come his way.
However, with a new game comes a new opportunity, and Willow Grove certainly has the bowling attack to worry what history would suggest can be a fragile Centrals batting order.
Mann himself took seven wickets last game, and his looming battle against the likes of Rob Webber, Mark Rawson and Tye Hourigan could make for compulsive viewing.
Hourigan missed out last game, and the skipper would dearly love to play a captain’s knock at home.
ROVERS have the bye
