Guyra began their 2019 in style with a resounding win over Ex-Services in their first game back in the new year.
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Batting first, three of Guyra’s top order surpassed a half-century. BJ Cameron managed 55, Matt Finlay 53 and Demielle Landsborough top-scored with 68.
Rounding out the innings, Charlie White finished on 33 not out as Guyra rocketed to 9-306.
Despite being the competition’s leading run-scorer, captain Matt Jackson missed out on runs with a second-ball duck.
“Great effort by the batsmen. Except for me, I was the only one who didn't get a run,” he said.
“I think there was a run in every column except for me.
“It was good to see the top order firing. Probably the next step for us is for one of those blokes, when we are in a situation like that, is to go on and get a big score instead of just a 50 or a 60.”
Guyra’s opening bowler Tyson Burey was back to his lethal best when Ex-Services stepped up to bat.
He finished with 3-25 from nine overs while Matt Finlay with two, Mitch Woods, Jake Ellis and the skipper rounded out the wickets as they tore through the Ex-Services batting line-up for 114.
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“Tyson bowled really well, that was probably the best he has bowled this year,” Jackson said.
“A lot of times when he bowls well he doesn't get the wickets to reward him but got three on the weekend.”
“We are nearly back to full-strength this weekend, I think we are going to have a few selection headaches which is the first time we have had to worry about it this year,” he said.
“It is a good situation to be in so we will turn up to training Thursday and pick a side and see how we go.”
City sat out at the weekend with the bye.
While they haven’t set foot on a pitch for a month, Jackson is expecting them to fire.
“But they still have got class players so it is not going to faze them from when they last played,” he said.
“A lot of it will come down to who wins the toss and who gets off to the best start.
“If we can not lose early wickets we will be right, but if we lose early wickets we will have to consolidate later on and dig deep.
“City have a quality bowler in [Karl] Triebe and the biggest thing is to make sure he doesn't get any wickets because once he gets a few wickets he gets on a bit of a roll and can tear through a side. He can bowl a side out for 17 runs but if he doesn't get any wickets then that puts a fair bit of pressure on their other bowlers.”
Jackson’s counterpart in City skipper Kyle Taylor said that is the area they will be targeting, to get through Guyra’s top order batsmen and limit their runscorers.
“I think the key to winning is just to take early wickets against Guyra because they have a pretty good batting line-up,” he said.
“They have got Mitch Woods, Shane Wolfenden, BJ Cameron coming in at three, Matt Finlay in there, Demielle Landsborough, Matt Jackson.
“If we can take quick, early wickets and slow their top order down a bit I think that is where we might win or lose the game. They have a pretty stacked line-up, both batting and bowling so it should be a good contest in Guyra on Saturday.”
With both captains indicating their teams are close to full-strength, a hard-fought battle is expected.
City will also test a newcomer to the competition.
“We are bringing in a new bloke who hasn't been tried in Armidale, his name is Ben and has been to training and bowling,” Taylor said.
“He can bat as well too so that is pretty good.
“He was going to play the whole season but had to go away for Christmas so we are going to give him a run the first week in first grade and see how he goes.”