Sport
15 February, 2024
Crows look to become a premiership threat
With the Crows basically stamping in their finals spot, they can now turn their atten-tion to Maryborough this week and look to ensure they can stamp themselves as a genuine premiership threat. One thing which has always been a trait of the Crows...
With the Crows basically stamping in their finals spot, they can now turn their atten-tion to Maryborough this week and look to ensure they can stamp themselves as a genuine premiership threat.
One thing which has always been a trait of the Crows this season is their ability to come back from bad situations. In their outright win against Carisbrook last week, they were able to weather an early storm which saw them 7/53 chasing 94 for first innings points, before they were able to nullify a fast-scoring Cole Harris and Dean Nalder with some good cricket of their own to secure victory by six wickets.
However, it’s a trait that Maryborough will also be hoping to adopt with their younger players, and last week was a step in the right direction.
The Owls had their backs against the wall sitting at 4/20 chasing 183, but with the evergreen Martin Dell scoring at will and finishing unbeaten on 81, plus some of their younger players holding their wickets and allowing him to score, they won’t be too mad about getting within 23 runs of Colts Phelans. The disappointment in not securing a win against their cross-town rivals may be there, but there are plenty of positive signs.
The Crows were well-served by Jack Smith last week, who was outstanding in crafting an unbeaten 48 in the first innings, before scoring 35 in the second. It was perhaps cruel that the Englishman wasn’t unbeaten throughout the afternoon, but it was a terrific performance nonetheless.
Another who performed well was Smith’s English partner in crime, Joe Kingsbury, who starred in Carisbrook’s first innings with a five-wicket haul.
With those two in form, plus the likes of Lachlan Oddie and Kriss Ellis scoring runs, the Crows loom as a smokey for a potential finals win if they are able to play at their best, and are still capable of perhaps pinching a home final if things go their way.
However, a win is simply a must, particularly one they will go into as warm favourite.
While the Owls have had a tough season, they will be happy with the development that has gone into the likes of leading wicket-taker Jasper Trickey, Lachie Condie and Sam Thomson, who has taken their chances in A grade and ran with it.
A good finish to the season would be a good fillip for the young group, and will be hoping to upset the top four applecart with a win over the next two weeks.