LEFT-ARM spinner Jason Greer knows much must go Brierly-Christ Church’s way today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bulls enter the last of Warrnambool and District Cricket Association’s Twenty20 rounds with realistic hopes of playing in semi-finals tomorrow.
But their presence in the last four depends on a variety of factors. The first, a big win against Nirranda at Brierly Recreation Reserve, is in their hands.
They also need Allansford to beat Merrivale. And then there’s the rain. Forecasters have predicted a 70-per-cent chance of between one and five millimetres.
Should the Gators help out and the rain stays away, Greer is confident the Bulls can rise from fourth to second on the Hopkins conference Twenty20 ladder.
“The destiny is mostly in our hands. We’ve got to win first and foremost. We’ve got a few people coming back this week,” he said.
“Shane Murphy is back, he didn’t play last week, and Matt Hill is back, he was away. That strengthens our bowling and our batting with Shane.”
Adding to his confidence is their post-Christmas form. Brierly-Christ Church upstaged Merrivale last weekend to remain in the hunt for the Twenty20 flag.
Scott Nicolson blasted 61 and Nathan Murphy added 49 as the Bulls’ chased down the Tigers 5-133 with six wickets and five balls to spare.
“Twenty20 is a funny game. If you get away to a good start, it sets up the whole game,” Greer said.
“If you lose early wickets, you’re behind the eight-ball. I think last week it was good to get partnerships with our batting.
“Nathan Murphy and Scotty Nicolson set up the run chase with a big second-wicket partnership, that’s what you’re looking for, you want partnerships.
“The hitters are there with Bill Quinlivan, Scotty Nicolson and Shane Murphy and if Nathan Murphy can bat for 20 overs, the runs will come for him.”
The Allansford-Merrivale clash is at Uebergang Oval. The third Hopkins conference encounter is between Nestles and Dennington at Reid Oval.
In the Merri conference, Twenty20 ladder leader East Warrnambool-YCW travels to Avery’s Paddock to play Port Fairy.
Second-ranked West Warrnambool can also lock away its semi-final berth with a win against Russells Creek at Davidson Oval.
And Wesley-CBC meets Woodford at Walter Oval. Woodford and Creek need to win and for results to go their way to displace West or East in the top two.
