Will Archer made his return to Hillgrove for the first time this year for their match-up against City on Saturday and turned in a formidable performance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the lead-up to the game, co-captain Matt Schaefer was looking forward to having the all-rounder available for selection.
“Archer coming back in is a big plus for us both with the bat and the ball,” Schaefer told The Armidale Express last week.
At 2-8 with his skipper at the crease, Archer came in and combined with Schaefer for 86 runs.
Adding to his 37 runs, Archer managed a six-fa in defending his side’s total of 204.
“We have missed him. He came on as our sixth bowler so we didn't get him straight into the game but seven overs, 6-27, that is a great result,” Schaefer said.
With the bat, Schaefer went on to post 69, a welcome return to form after he posted ducks in his last two performances.
Brad King managed 20 and Max Laurie 33 not out.
“We lost a couple of early wickets and I thought 'here we go' but Arch and I were able to consolidate in the middle, build a good partnership and then when he got out Kingy and I had another small partnership as well,” Schaefer said.
“That helped us get up to about 150 and then Max and Liam went in at the end and put on another 50 for their wicket.
“It is always good to get through that 200 barrier, it is a bit of a mental thing for a side to be chasing 200 as opposed to 190.
“We batted well, we batted out our overs, probably for the first time this year.”
Ball in hand, Schaefer managed to claim the City’s opening batsman Ash Clee for 11 before Nick Farrar and captain Kyle Taylor went on combined for 91 runs.
“To their credit, Nick and Kyle batted really well together,” Schaefer said.
“Farrar was very patient with the bat, you can tell he has got a good technique and scoring will come for him later on.”
Farrar finished with 34 and Taylor 82 with the rest of the team failing to reach double figures.
“He [Taylor] ended up scoring 80-odd and without those two guys, the rest of the team didn't put up much resistance so it is a credit to Kyle and Nick actually for batting as well as they did.”
Much of the talk surrounding Hillgrove all season has focused on the strength and depth of their batting line-up.
They proved on Saturday not to be a one-trick pony with their bowling attack playing to their strengths.
“We might not have the strike power in the bowling of a Karl Triebe, or a Jackson Gwynne-type pace bowler, Tyson Burey even – all the other teams have got a pretty good quick – we have got medium pacers who do a bit with the ball,” Schaefer said.
“If we set good fields and take good catches I think we can do the job with them.
“I think there has been some times when we haven't had a very strong line-up this year but we are getting back to full-strength now and we do have good bowlers.
“Sean Skinner bowled five overs, 0-7, and that included four wides, so they scored three runs off him in five overs.
“That is fantastic for an opening bowler to go that well.”
They have the bye this weekend.