TERANG skipper Brett Hunger credited smart batting on a tough wicket for his side’s narrow South West Cricket win on Saturday.
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Hunger’s side notched an 11-run triumph against fellow top four contender Bookaar at Terang in the final one-day round before Christmas, giving it confidence entering long form competition next weekend.
“We were very happy to come away with a win in the end,” he said.
“It was a really big game and really important for us to set up going into the two-dayers.”
Opener Jay Wynd top-scored with 46 as Terang cobbled together 137.
Simon Baker and Jeremy Lucas both took four wickets for Bookaar.
Bookaar captain Fraser Lucas made 27 in his side’s failed run chase.
It was all out for 126 in the 43rd over.
Hunger said Wynd led the way for Terang with the bat.
“It was a tough pitch to bat on and a few people dug in and got runs on the board for us,” he said.
“It gave us something to defend. It was really good to have him back in.
“He wasn’t hitting them overly cleanly but got a few shots away.
“He hit the ball hard and it was good to get runs on the board early.
“Ben Graesser made 29 but he was out there for 107 balls.
“He really dug in and we built our whole innings around him.
“He is a young kid too and new to the club this year and it was good to see him put an innings together like that.”
Hunger was also happy with Terang’s bowling efficiency, particularly in the latter stages of Bookaar’s innings when the result was in the balance.
Terang has four wins, a loss and a draw from its six one-day fixtures, giving itself a launching pad for the two-dayers.
“Apart from the Mortlake game, where we let ourselves down, we have been happy with our start to the year,” he said.
“Having not played two-dayers for a while it’s going to be interesting to see (how we fare).
“I think we have the players to adjust to two-dayers again but the first few weeks will be a transition period.
“It is about being aware of batting out overs and little things like that.”
In other games, Simpson shocked 2013-14 grand finalist Pomborneit as the Bulls’ season took another wrong turn.
The Tigers produced an 11-run win in a low-scoring contest at home.
Simpson was bundled out for 79 but Brad Salmon’s 5-19 and Nick Harding 4-27 skittled the Bulls’ line-up for 68.
Kaplan McCann’s strong batting performance propelled Cobden to a 17-run win against Noorat. McCann opened the batting for Cobden, making 96 to help his side to 212.
Dominic Kenna, who took 3-14, teamed with Jarryd Hay to give Noorat a strong chance in its run chase.
The pair — Kenna made 60 and Hay 54 — put on a 72-run fifth-wicket stand.
But their efforts proved fruitless as Noorat was dismissed for 195.
Matt Ross-Watson snared 4-18 for Cobden.
Tyler Schafer made 77 in Mortlake’s convincing 85-run win against Heytesbury Rebels.
Middle order bat Shane Slater finished unbeaten on 54 and Todd Lamont (47) and Josh Barr (44) made solid contributions as the Cats posted 5-295.