MASTER blaster Simon Norvill hit the right notes as he and his Tamworth teammates prepared for a long bus trip to the South Coast yesterday.
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The Tamworth Old Boys top-order batsman is chasing a third SCG Country Cup when the side starts a big finals weekend with a quarter-final match against Albury Wodonga at Kevin Walsh Oval, Jamberoo today.
If Tamworth wins today the side then backs up for a semi- final tomorrow.
Success in both guarantees a berth in the SCG Country Final at the SCG on January 12.
Norvill has played in two SCG Country Cup Finals at the SCG and won both.
Playing a third time there would be a perfect reward for playing some good, dominating cricket so far this season, Norvill said.
“As long as we play our best we can get there,” he said.
“But we cannot leave it to someone else.
“You’ve got to do it yourself.
“You can’t think someone else can come in and knock up the runs or take the wickets.
“If we do play to our best we can give this a big shake.”
Norvill showed that in a brief but influential innings at Coffs Harbour two weeks back.
Chasing a small total of 76, Norvill teed off, as he can, and blasted 36 off just 23 balls on a seaming, slowish wicket as Tamworth polished off a six wicket win in just over 14 overs.
However, he and top order bats such as Michael Rixon, Adam Jones and Calum Rowe had a little more pressure heaped on them yesterday.
Adam Jones, also a selector, advised the players Kris Halloran was a late withdrawal due to family commitments.
Halloran’s loss is a major blow for the side.
Then Jones was informed James Psarakis has to play trial games with his State Under 17 side in Sydney tomorrow and Monday.
It wasn’t the sort of news you needed as a team official as you were loading onto a bus for a seven to eight-hour drive down south.
“At least we’ve got a better bus this time,” joked team manager Peter Everett after having a slow trip to and from Coffs Harbour in their most recent SCG Country Cup foray.
It means the Tamworth side will bank even more on individuals putting their hands up to produce more runs and take key wickets.
“We’ll just have to play the bare 11 on Sunday,” Jones said.
“Everyone will just have to play his best and take it up a notch.”
Norvill agreed.
Performing with the bat will be uppermost in his master-blasting ethos.
“We’ll just have to bat well,” he shrugged before posing for a team photo and hopping on a bus that could ferry them to a weekend that could launch a third SCG Country Cup Final quest.