The Bowral Blues have made a belated bid to bury their cricketing demons and resurrect their flagging finals hopes with a grinding victory over the Wingello Tigers at Bradman Oval on Saturday.
The young Blues have struggled for consistently all season and despite taking the points in a see-sawing two day battle, Saturday belonged to Wingello who fleetingly looked like they might pull off a miracle win.
The second day was dominated by Tigers captain Ricky Martin who tore the Blues line-up to shreds claiming 6/19 that included a spectacular hat trick.
Andrew Taylor led the way with the bat for Wingello, smashing a dynamic run-a-ball 74 and helping to salvage a valuable five points for the Tigers.
The match was an ever-changing affair with Wingello looking hopeless at 5/34 chasing 239 at the close of the first day’s play but a Taylor-led lower order resurgence nearly resulted in an unlikely first innings victory for the Tigers who eventually fell just 32 runs short of the Blues total.
The bottom five Wingello batsman again saved the day, putting on a brilliant 150 runs as opposed to the top six notching up a mediocre 34.
After Richard Stone was caught behind for ten early in the day, Robson and Taylor put together a handy partnership before Robson fell to a good catch by Dave Perry for 24.
Greg Martin was next to go for nine and it looked like the in-form Taylor may be left stranded.
But when he fell for 74, Jamie Williams and John Gale were left to chase the sizeable total.
And the two tailenders didn’t disappoint, compiling a heady partnership and giving the Tigers a sniff before Gale fell for a well-constructed 21.
With first innings points assured, the Blues set about earning some much needed bonus points and openers Luke Reurich and Mark Scott seemed like they might put on a few before Scott was dismissed for 11.
That began the avalanche as Martin claimed Kull and Davidson LBW for golden ducks and the euphoria that followed the hat trick ignited a spirited comeback from the bowling side.
Next to fall was Perry for two and Brian Martin to an unlucky LBW decision for one and when Ian Pope was run out for a duck the Blues were all out for 70 with Aaron Fox left stranded for a patient 18 no.
While disappointed with the second innings, Blues captain Brian Martin was happy with the overall performance of his side.
“Because of our position on the table we really had to have a go for it,” he said.
“The second day was disappointing but Paul Davidson carrying an injury really didn’t help.
“But the good thing is that we finally turned things around and finally put a win on the board.
“I thought Paul Davidson bowled well even though he was injured and Luke Reurich batted well too.
“The fielding did let us down and lack of numbers really doesn’t help.”
And despite his side still flagging behind Wingello by 15 points, Martin hasn’t written off the Blues finals chances.
“We just have to keep winning and hope results fall our way,” he said.
“But the team has confidence going into next week’s game against Moss Vale and considering Wingello beat them we must be a real hope.”
Even though the Tigers didn’t get the points, Wingello captain Ricky Martin was pleased with the never say die attitude his team displayed on Saturday.
“We might have lost the game but we definitely won the days play,” he said.
“The tailenders just won’t accept that we’re gonna get beaten and full credit to John Gale, Jamie Williams and Andrew Taylor.
“Saturday proved that we can come back from impossible positions.”
But the woeful form of the Tigers top order has forced the captain to consider wholesale changes.
“We really do have to make changes this week,” Martin said.
“We’re playing Mittagong at Welby next week and I’m still trying to tell the boys that we have to win every game in.”
While not wanting to boast, Martin was quietly pleased with his own match turning performance.
“I was quite impressed with how I bowled,” he said.
“And to get a hat trick was just electric and such a buzz at a time when we really needed wickets.”
SaturdayR 17;s other two first grade matches were washed out with Moss Vale claiming the points against Exeter and competition frontrunners Bowral lucky to escape with a draw against Mittagong.
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