Openers dream of a flying start: Dogs' plan for finals

DENNINGTON Twenty20 skipper Dustin Drew will be hoping for two wishes to come true in his club's push for glory in the Sungold Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.Drew's side has dominated the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association qualifying games and he's won all three tosses and batted.But the key to the success has been Drew's stunning opening partnerships with Sri Lankan import Tharanga Fernando."If I had two wishes against Irrewarra in the quarter-final on Sunday morning it would be to win the toss and get away to another flyer in the first six overs," the 24-year-old all-rounder said yesterday.Drew and 26-year-old Fernando are averaging an opening stand of 75 runs through their three Twenty20 cup qualifying rounds.They smashed 104 against Nirranda as the side made 205 (Fernando 74, Drew 33), both clubbed three sixes against Woodford in a stand of 89 (Fernando 35, Drew 51) from a total of 214 and then put on 33 against Allansford (Fernando 37, Drew 9) in a score of 168.Drew has made 209 runs at an average of almost 35 in a month of cricket while Fernando has managed 216 runs at 43 in just 11 days."The Sungold Twenty20 Cup is just what Warrnambool cricket needed. It's the spark local cricket has been desperate for - everyone is talking about cricket," Drew said."It's a huge advantage to get off to a start in a Twenty20, either batting or bowling. You can only have two fielders outside the circle for the first six overs."Drew said Fernando, who is known as Boonie "because he's short and tubby", was a natural shot-maker."He's got a super eye. In those first six overs you can hit over the field and get rewards for your shots. You don't hold back," he said.Drew said his bowling tactics revolved around bowling full on or outside off stump."If a batsman is good enough to hit across the line then good luck to them," he said."I'm pretty confident we can do pretty well in the competition if we can get past Irrewarra in the quarter-final. They are a good side after winning the last two Colac flags."Drew said Irrewarra's danger players included brutal playmaker Micah Buchanan, brother of Sydney Swans AFL footballer Amon and Premier Cricket gun batsman Liam, and captain Nick Hay.He said Dennington's side seemed better suited to Twenty20 cricket with club captain Glenn Skinner batting at No. 3."We bat right down the order. Ben Menzel is averaging 25 and he's at about No. 7," Drew said."Terry Beks and off-spinner Fernando lead the attack. It's all about mixing up your pace but fielding is probably the most important part of the game. "Nathan Hoy's been really great in the field for us. He's quick and we've got a side of pretty good fielders."Drew said he hoped a good crowd turned up to see the two qualifying games at Dennington on Sunday.The Doggies play Irrewarra at 10.30am. The game will be followed by Stonyford taking on Pomborneit at 1.30pm."We've been averaging seven sixes a game," Drew said."In two games you would expect 20 to 25 sixes and at $100 a catch there's plenty of incentive for people to come along and enjoy the action," he said. The other two quarter-finals will be played at Averys Paddock, Port Fairy, on Sunday with Portland Colts clashing against Portland Tigers at 10.30am and South Portland taking on Panmure Bulldogs from 1.30pm.The semi-finals and final will be played at Allansford on Monday.