TAMWORTH Second XI will be hoping for a change in fortunes tomorrow as they seek to recapture the 2TMO Cup.
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It’s been more than five years since they last held the silverware.
That’s been in no small part down to the weather, with the last three finals washed out.
Tamworth skipper Matt Everett is hoping it’s fourth time lucky.
“If I can play one out of four it would be good,” Everett said.
The Bective-East skipper takes over the captaincy for the final against Maitland, with regular skipper Ben Middlebrook skippering Old Boys in the Coalboard Cup final.
They take on Cessnock after becoming the first club side to claim the War Veterans Cup.
The consequence of that is the Tamworth Seconds will lose around half the side that beat Narrabri in the MA Connolly Cup two weeks ago.
It will leave a bit of a dent but they’ve covered for it pretty well.
“It’s a good side, especially with Jonesie (Adam Jones) and Jimmy (James Psarakis) coming in,” Everett said.
“We won’t lose any batting strength.”
That strength extends down the order, with Mitch Holt and Ben Semmler listed down at 9 and 10.
Neither are slouches with the bat.
Semmler will also have a big role to play with the ball.
He’s coming off a 10-wicket haul in the two-dayer against West Tamworth and will spearhead the attack with Troy Osborne.
Everett is inclined to open with them and use Brad Redshaw and Bulls team-mate Brad Jenkinson as change bowlers.
“The bowling is sweet,” Everett said.
“We’ve got Jimmy to bowl spin and Mackenzie (Morrison) to bowl off-spin too.”
Everett will be looking for something around 250.
“If we can get 250-plus, with our bowlers we can defend that,” he said.
Not that he knows a lot about the Maitland side.
“I know a few of the boys from playing Central North with,” he said.
Middlebrook is in a similar position.
He was part of the Tamworth side that played Cessnock-Branxton in the Country Shield earlier in the season but isn’t really sure what to expect.
“They’ve got a few handy players. Hopefully we can nullify them,” Middlebrook said.
It’s exciting territory for the club.
“There is a bit of a buzz around the club. We’re hoping we get the win,” he said.
“It would be a great achievement.”
Their last one-day effort wasn’t their best performance for the season but Middlebrook is confident they won’t have the same issues tomorrow.
“Our side obviously suits one-day cricket,” he said.
They just seem to struggle with the white ball and under lights.
Getting back to the red ball they should be right.
