By Peter Johnston
Five weeks ago today’s final minor round game in the Barrier District Cricket League (BDCL) season between North and West at Alma Oval shaped as a full-dress rehearsal for this season’s Final.
Since then, successive losses against Central have placed West’s chances of making it to the ‘Big Dance’ in severe jeopardy.
The Robins must show today they remain at the standard that has delivered them the past two premierships. The only way to do this is to ensure they can make a score of 150-plus runs which should enable them to apply pressure to North’s strong batting line-up.
The Attard brothers will need to fire along with Max Everuss and get good support from the likes of McInerney, Christos and Rosewarn. All too often this season only one or two of West’s top batters have got away to a good start.
Wilson, Johnson, Jurd and Cain will test the resolve of the West top order batting while Vella and Howard are likely to make inroads into West’s middle and lower order.
Tobias Hack confirmed he has found good form with the bat with a solid unbeaten 74 against South last weekend. Ben Jurd also showed he was well on the way to recapturing some of his scintillating form from prior to Christmas, with a quick-fire cameo performance of 27. Codie Howard remains the sleeping giant in the North batting line-up and his best form is likely to be seen as the stakes increase at the end of the season.
Laurence Hebbard carries the hopes of the West side in the bowling department. Peter Christos and Rosewarn will be steady with the ball but don’t have the same penetration as that of teammate Hebbard.
North should win this contest thanks to their depth in batting and, in so doing, tighten further in the betting to take this season’s flag honours.
