Ex-Services are in the box seat to secure their first win of Armidale Cricket’s two day match season with a dominant opening day against City last Saturday.
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Servies opened the batting and put on 149 runs for their first innings with City’s Karl Triebe again the best of his side’s bowlers with 5-36.
Brad Widders top scored with 24 and, while no one stood out with the bat, Servies captain John Elliot said it was patience at the crease which earned them a solid total.
“I was really impressed with the way Jarrod Burton batted and hung around,” he said.
“Pretty impressed with the way we didn't lose wickets in clumps.
“Triebey still managed to take five but they weren't back-to-back wickets.
“We consolidated well and built little partnerships.”
With the ball, Servies tore through City’s line-up to have their opponents at 7-39 by the end of the day.
Again all the bowlers contributed with Elliot snagging two wickets, Widders three and Leon Clifford two while Josh Targett only had three runs scored off him from five overs.
Elliot said although his side appear to be in front on the scoreboard, they won’t be getting ahead of themselves on the second day.
“The job's only half done, we still have three wickets to get,” he said.
“First and foremost it is trying to secure those last three wickets and add more runs.”
In the Guyra-Hillgrove match, what happens early in the day’s play could go a long way in determining who wins the clash.
Guyra enter the second day 110 runs in front after scoring 176 from their innings but the reigning premiers will have captain Matt Schaefer and Andrew Brownlie at the crease.
Schaefer said the match is pretty even heading into the second day.
“We lost our openers but Brownlie and I were able to consolidate the innings a bit.
“I thought they bowled well, they bowled well to me, probably a bit short to Brownlie but they bowled well for that 20-ever spell in the afternoon.
“I think it is pretty evenly poised.
“If we can get through the first 10-15 overs we should make pretty good inroads after that.”
Guyra’s senior cricket coordinator Adrian Cameron echoed Schaefer’s assessment in that the opening stages of the day are crucial for both sides.
“If they could get a couple of quick wickets it could be but they have Matt Schaefer and Brownlie in there at the moment so probably two of Armidale's best batsmen,” he said.
“If they happen to jag one of them early it would give them a big boost.
“Everyone's confident but no one is over exaggerating the situation because they know they [Hillgrove] have depth there.
“It is there to make a game of cricket of that's for sure.”