A BRILLIANT spell of bowling from Daniel Krogh has seen the Ex-Services Bushrangers turn possible defeat into a comfortable victory in Saturday’s Merrin Cup match at Clarke Oval.
Krogh obliterated the Big O Burglars batting card on his way to the magnificent figures of 6-6 off eight overs and in the process allowed the Bushrangers to not only defend their mediocre total of 75, but have 30 runs to spare at the end.
On a day in which the ball
completely dominated the bat only one player, Bushrangers opener was able to score more than 13, with Welch’s 32 viewed by many as just as important as Krogh’s effort with the ball.
The 19 wickets that fell (Bushrangers only fielded 10 on the day) came at an average of less than seven and, with the two teams set to meet again before the start of the final series, both sides will be looking for an improved performance.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Bushrangers would have been reasonably happy to be 2-39 after 13 overs, however things quickly went pear shape.
Opener Liam Welch and First XI representative Josh Purtell had
recovered from losing Kevin Damschke for one and Wayd Millar for five, gradually pushing the score along in the face of some tight bowling from Jimmy Mitchell and Peter Guthrie.
Dean Guthrie was introduced into the attack and made the breakthrough, cleaning up Purtell for 13 in his second over.
Welch and Parkinson were able to add another 19 before Welch fell to a smart catch by Gerard Piffero for what proved to be a game-high 32.
In a worrying sign the Bushrangers lost their last five wickets for the
addition of just 11 runs as Mitchell
(3-21), Peter Guthrie (3-32), Dean Guthrie (2-17) and Luke Levett (1-2) all cashed in.
Despite being without the impregnable Scott Roberts, the Bushrangers would have been confident in hunting down the total but were quickly forced to rethink when openers Dean Guthrie and Mitchell were both gone without scoring and Peter Louttit was back in the hutch for two, all three falling
victim to the line and length of Krogh.
Their woes only got worse when Mick Gay and Blake Guthrie fell
within the space of one run and
suddenly the Burglars were 5-15.
Peter Guthrie and Mitch Trinder were able to double the total, however when the former was caught off the bowling of Andrew Parkinson for 12, the Burglars hopes faded with it.
Trinder made eight before becoming Parkinson’s second victim and when Krogh was re-introduced into the attack he needed just two overs to mop up the tail.
Krogh had just five scoring shots taken from his 48 deliveries to be an obvious choice for man-of-the-match.
With the competition now split in two, the Bushrangers find themselves on the top rung of the Sparre Cup
ladder on 33 points, a total they share with Wallendbeen however the Ex-Services side boasts a better quotient.
Burglars are a win behind on 27, with all three teams desperate to finish in the top two and earn a second chance come semi final time.
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