BURGEONING form in Port Fairy’s bowling ranks has new Pirate Jordan Graham buoyant yet realistic about his side’s chances in finals.
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The former Jan Juc bowler shifted west due to family connections on his partner’s side of the family and has proven his worth with 24 wickets to date.
Graham arrived at Avery’s Paddock with a strong pedigree in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s top grade and is forming a dangerous bowling partnership with long-time Pirate Sam McCartney.
He hit his best form in last week's triumph over Brierly-Christ Church, claiming 10 wickets across both innings’ to gift his team an outright victory which all but cemented its place in Warrnambool and District Cricket Association finals.
“My partner and I came down here for a few holidays because her family is based down here. From that, I got speaking to Aaron (Williams) and it just went from there,” Graham told The Standard.
“As soon as I spoke to Wilks (co-captain Kalon Wilkie), Azza (Williams) and Damian (Gleeson) it just felt right. I’m really stoked with the decision I’ve made.
“The thing is that right across the board, from the thirds, down to the juniors and right up to the ones, we’re all equal. We’re one club and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
The 23-year-old said the Pirates were confident but wary after shoring up their place in the finals.
“We’re realistic about our chances. There are three other teams fighting it out and we’re just determined to do everything we can to increase that 25 per cent chance that we can get something out of it,” he said.
“We know on our day, we can beat anybody.
“People probably think we rely too heavily on Jason (Perera) but the reality is that we can bat right down our order. Wilks got a 70 the other day, and Travy (Parsons) got a 50 as well. It’s spread across our team.”
He backed Port Fairy’s bowling ranks and said pressure was next to non-existent as so many players had chipped in with cameos throughout the season.
“Like Jase (Perera) I was new so it probably took us a little while to find what everybody was trying to do,” Graham said.
“We don’t put wickets to names so much, it’s Port Fairy getting the wickets. As long as we’re getting them, we’re happy.
“We put as much emphasis on a bowling partnership as we do a batting partnership.”
Despite its smaller stature to that of cricket in Geelong, Graham said the WDCA packed a punch and was increasingly tough for players.
“I’ve found that every team has their good players and if you’re off by 10 per cent, like we were a bit earlier on in the season, you will get done,” he said.