Grampians Cricket Association A Grade minor premier Swifts-Great Western will host Youth Club in semi-final action at Central Park starting on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Combine finished clear on top with only one loss to their name and will face the fourth-placed Clubbers who snuck into finals after a last gasp outright victory last week.
Combine captain Sam Cocks said the team is not underestimating fourth-placed Youth Club going into the semi-final.
“The top five has been pretty close all year and finals are never easy to win,” he said.
“We were in the same position last year, so that was a good eye opener for us ahead of this year and we will not be getting ahead of ourselves this time around.”
The game will be played at Swifts-Great Western’s home ground with Youth Club also having played multiple games at Central Park this season.
Cocks said he expects a close match with decent scores posted by both teams.
“It is always a good place to play cricket at,” he said.
“The pitch is always pretty good and you always get value for your shots at the crease.”
Swifts-Great Western has had a settled line-up in the lead-up to finals, something Cocks said was important for the team.
“We have been lucky to have most of the same line-up all year and we have had some really good matches in recent weeks,” he said.
“Despite not playing the second day of the final round, the blokes get enough hits during the season, so we should be ready to go on Saturday.”
Youth Club captain Cam Kimber said the team is ready for the challenge against Combine.
“We know it is going to be a big challenge but we certainly go into it with a lot of confidence,” he said.
“We believe our best can match it with them.”
Kimber said he expects the final to be a close contest with runs likely to flow throughout both innings.
“I know Swifts have a really good batting line-up and we bat pretty deep as well, both teams’ strength is probably the batting line,” he said.
Kimber said sharing the load across the team will be critical to the hopes of winning.
“Clint Slorach has been bowling really well and Damon Folkes has been outstanding as well all year, so I expect those two to step up again,” he said.
“I think if we can get on top with the bat when their strike bowlers are having a spell, then it will also be important for us.”
Kimber said it was just great to be play finals.
“It is great to be playing cricket at this time of year,” he said.
