MERRIVALE’S belief is growing.
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Sounding an ominous warning to their rivals, the Tigers slayed an in-form giant for the second successive week on Saturday.
They captured the early scalps of several Brierly-Christ Church stars, with in-form brothers Nathan and Mark Murphy dismissed for 10 and five runs respectively.
First-year Merrivale skipper Josh Stapleton said the triumph – which thrust the Tigers among top four calculations – had confidence oozing from his young group.
“We’re carrying that momentum through and the belief is definitely there,” Stapleton said.
“Our young players are giving us exactly what we’re after. We had about four changes to the team this week and it shows the guys battling to come up from the twos are in good form.”
Stapleton, a talented footballer with Old Collegians, said he and co-captain Jeremy Burgess created bowling plans in the hope of removing Brierly’s top order early.
“Brierly have got those five or so really talented batsmen at the top of the order,” he said.
“It means you have to bowl to tight plans. The wicket wasn’t that bad – it was a little green on top – but we had them 9-60 before Jacob Brooks and Harry Rooke dug in.”
Brooks and Rooke provided resistance, adding 30 runs to the Bulls’ total at the death of the innings.
Stapleton expected another tough test against Allansford next week, with the Gators’ also steamrolling Wesley-CBC on Saturday.