WGCA District Division preview – semi-final
HITTING their strides at the right time will be crucial in District Division as the powerhouse Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll squares off against late-season ladder-riser Lyndhurst, while the cannon-bats of Emerald take on Clyde and its equally impressive bowling cartel.
Curiously enough, none of the finalists played each other this round, so the current form-lines can only be taken with a pinch of salt.
NAR NAR GOON/MARYKNOLL v LYNDHURST VIKINGS
Two big questions will define this match and inevitably who gets to finals – firstly, can Lyndhurst stop Nar Nar Goon’s top six? Their recognised batsmen have 1900 runs between them, not to mention their lower-order players, like Ken McLeod and Wade Crawford who know their way around a blade as well.
Flying under the radar this season, Lyndhurst Vikings jumped rapidly into the four following wins over Officer and St Francis Xavier. A lot rests on Jason Hameeteman’s shoulders – 460 runs at 35.4 this season has effectively been the difference between wins and batting collapses on occasion, especially his 75 from 163 against Clyde and 88 in 4/202 chasing Devon Meadow’s 200 in a round 10 one-dayer. The Vikings do have another five batsmen above 200 runs for the season, that said there’s enough in the line-up to tick over a 180-200 run par-score.
With two wins on the board this season, both times eclipsing 200 against the Vikings, and a team that would be better suited pulling on Baggy Greens than Baggy Red, White and Blues at the moment, it’s hard to go past the Marygoons. Every batsman has form, every bowler has wickets. Not sure which other clubs going around have that depth, but it will be a Herculean challenge for Lyndhurst to best them at home.
EMERALD v CLYDE
The battle between Emerald and Clyde could inevitably become a battle between their star captains – AJ Walker and Kyle Brooke respectively. Walker is the Cougars’ ultimate prize wicket with the Bombers’ captain rattling off 605 runs this year, with a century and four half centuries to his name. Scarier though is his recent form – last five innings were 91 not out, 82, 42, 42 not out and 77. While Walker is the golden ticket, the next man in the queue is equally as ferocious – Mark Alenson has 396 runs and knows how to cash in as well. There is a drop-off after that, so snaring those two early is pivotal for Clyde. On the reverse, Clyde’s main man would be first choice for the District’s best XI this year, with 458 runs at 32.7 and 29 wickets at 16.4 making him exceptional in either solo regard, let alone as a true all-rounder. Clyde’s next two batsman are also all-rounders – Dean Williams (261 at 37.1) and Nick Miles (260 at 20) come in usually at seven and eight respectively, with Gav Adams and Noel O’Brien the other two Cougars over 200 runs this season. That shows a bit of frailty at the top of the order, which could be exposed by Emerald firebrand Clint Marsh – who has 42 wickets at 9, even with missing the last match. In the closest final across all the top-flights this week, I’ll have to put my money on Emerald, only on account of their two guns leading their attacks.
