ONE-TIME Allansford skipper Nick Maddison is backing experienced reinforcements to keep the Gators’ season alive as they ramp up a chase of Dennington in Saturday’s do-or-die clash.
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The 34-year-old is fighting on at nine not out and will join Ewen Burt at the crease at Allansford chases the Dogs’ total of 166.
Maddison, who has blasted 253 runs this season, said the Gators’ were determined to make up ground lost in short-form cricket defeats.
“We have plenty of guys in the side with (leadership) experience though – Timmsy (all-rounder Kyall Timms), Mitch Clark, a new recruit who I’m fairly sure captained a country week side – it’s all there.
“In saying that though, it doesn’t just happen. In the shorter form of the game, we didn’t win enough games to create some of that pressure we needed to.
“I reckon the depth this year is a lot better than last year though, there are a lot of sides that are fairly strong.”
The former Ararat cricketer said he believed the Uebergang Oval pitch was honest and would hold up well for the Gators’ batsmen.
“(Uebergang Oval) is usually fairly quick and good to bat on,” he said.
“I think it played pretty well last week. It has a little bit more grass on it than last year and it probably has a little more in it for the bowlers.
“You normally need 200-plus to defend on the pitch here.”
Allansford will resume on 1-14 off six overs after Kyall Timms was dismissed with the first ball of the innings last weekend.