HILLGROVE Colts tackle East in today’s Armidale One Day Final at NEM Armidale Sports Ground without their main strike bowler.
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The Brad King-skippered side will be without star allrounder Lochlan Elks for the 45-over-a-side game starting at 12.45pm.
It means Adam Thurlow, who claimed 2-15 opening the bowling for Armidale in Sunday’s six wicket War Veterans Cup win over Inverell, and teenager Ben Laurie will need to step up.
Elks’s unavailability also leaves the Hillgrove middle order batting less intimidating.
“He hits the ball and can hit it a long way,” said East skipper Sam Uphill on learning of Elks’s unavailability.
“They’d be pretty disappointed not having him.
“He’s their best bowler.”
East could be full strength for today’s limited over final although Uphill believes Tom Toshack’s hamstring injury might stop the middle order bat from playing.
“I can’t see him playing but it depends on what the physio says today,” he said.
We’ll give him every chance.”
East will have Sam Constance and Tyson Burey to open the bowling, with Uphill, Todd Francis and Matt Jackson sharing the change bowling duties.
East’s attack has to strike early too, with the “three big wickets” – Matt Baillie, Michael Dawson and Matt Schaefer – posing plenty of problems, especially with Baillie and Dawson both scoring runs in Sunday’s War Veterans Cup win against Inverell.
East opener Aaron Whackett is also in form coming off Sunday’s 106 against Gunnedah in the MA Connolly Cup match at Jack Vallance Oval.
“Aaron’s found form at the right time,” Uphill said.
However his opening partner, Dean Moore, has lost his run-scoring success from early in the season and is coming off three successive ducks.
“He’s due,” Uphill said.
Josh Taylor and Todd Francis, who scored just one against Inverell, are to follow.
Hillgrove skipper Brad King is looking to Thurlow and Laurie to open the Colts’ bowling.
“Adam has been bowling okay,” he said.
“He’s been trying to find his length here after coming from Dubbo.
“When he does he’s dangerous.
“Young Ben is bowling well too and young Sean Skinner is bowling all right too.
“He’s come from third grade this season and got Dean Moore the last time we played.”
Matt Schaefer and Scott Brennan will also give the Colts a good attack.