ALBION are planning on going into this weekend’s Gunnedah Cricket elimination final against Mornington with all guns blazing.
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Captain James Mack said the batsmen had not been firing lately, but is hoping to turn that around and post a big score.
Despite finishing lower on the ladder than their opponents, Mornington are going in as favourites according to GDC president Mike Silver.
“On paper Mornington have a very good batting line up,” Silver said.
“Jamie Mitchell is the best bat in the comp technically and the side is capable of posting very big scores.”
Recently chasing 230 against minor premiers the Kookaburras, Mornington flew past the score and went well past 300.
Despite this, Mack thinks the game will be fairly evenly matched.
“Andy (Mack) is a very handy batsmen and can score a lot of runs,” Mack said.
“Blake Small and Muthusany Karthikeyan have also hit a lot of runs this season.”
The captain would like to post at least 150 runs with 200 being ideal if they bat first.
If they field first the goal is to take two wickets in the first10 overs.
Opener Trent Hilton and second drop and captain Jordy Ford have been earmarked as dangerous batsmen that will be targeted.
Albion have a decent bowling line up with himself and Mitch Swain opening the bowling.
They also have the left arm spin of Jarrod Smith that can be hard to deal with.
“If we can get into their middle order early we can slow the run rate down and contain them as well as look for wickets,” Mack said.
The captain is still relying on the batting order firing this game despite the recent weeks.
“We have all been making starts like 20 or 30 runs but then we have been falling in a heap.”
“Someone or hopefully more will have to go on and get at least that 50 or 60 runs.”
“To win a final we have to have a couple of good scores.”
A grand final berth against the Kookaburra’s next weekend awaits the winner of this match.
The elimination final will be played over Saturday and Sunday at Wolseley Oval.