ARMIDALE has beaten Gunnedah once this summer and will take the same winning formula into tomorrow’s War Veterans Cup game at the Armidale Sportsground.
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After good wins over Narrabri and Gunnedah so far this season the home side is banking on its improved batting form to set up another win.
“We’ve been backing ourselves to score that 200 plus at the Sportsground, which is always a pretty good score,” captain Andrew Brownlie said.
“And then we’ve worked hard to defend it.
“Against Gunnedah the first time, Sam Uphill was awesome with the ball with his 5 for 20-odd.
“We just need to improve with the new ball.
“Against Gunnedah and Narrabri they got off to 80 or 100-run starts so we’ve been working on that.
“We need to bowl good areas, outside off stump and that sort of thing, and be patient.”
Uphill was the star of that last win over Gunnedah in the Country Shield and is in the lineup again this week.
But he will receive some extra support from the more experienced Luke Brown this time.
“Luke Brown comes back into the side, which adds some experience,” Brownlie said.
“He’s been playing in the UK and he had a huge season over there.
“He took a heap of wickets and scored plenty of runs too.
“It’s good to have him back.”
Henry Cupitt and spinner Steve Butler are the other members of the front-line bowling attack.
In the batting stakes, the side is missing Adam O’Sullivan but selectors have given in-form youngsters Michael Dawson and Will Frost the chance to show what they can do at senior level.
“Dawson has been very consistent in club cricket,” Brownlie said.
“He’s got a pretty good head on his shoulders for a young opener.
“And Will Frost is the leading run scorer in town.
“He had a stint with the Central North under 17s and he’s playing well at the moment.
“He would have played previously if he’d been available but this is the first time that he’s been available.”
Brownlie said the heat would be a factor tomorrow with temperatures around the 32 degree mark – something the Armidale locals aren’t used to.
Armidale is also building towards next week’s Country Shield game against Singleton at the Sportsground.
That game can propel the side to the state finals.
“This is an important game on Sunday going into next week’s game,” Brownlie said.
“The Shield game will be our biggest of the year to date and if we win it we’ll go to the finals of the Shield competition.
“So this Sunday we want to play well and get a win and take that momentum into next week’s game.”
ARMIDALE: Michael Dawson, Dean Moore, Matt Schaefer, Andrew Brownlie (c), Brad Smith, Will Frost, Paul Woodford, Stephen Butler, Sam Uphill, Henry Cupitt, Hugh Reeves, Luke Brown.
