A TOP-of-the-table clash headlines this weekend’s Bell and Moir Mount Isa Cricket Association fixtures.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The undefeated Black Stars will do battle with the second-placed Cavaliers, with the league-leader heading into the match full of confidence.
“As a team, we have been eyeing off this match for a while now, with all the boys looking forward to the challenge,” Black Stars skipper Kyle Keighery said.
“The team picked up where it left off before Christmas by winning both of the first two games of the new year.
“And with a close to full-strength team available, we are confident of getting the job done.
“Only Ryan ‘The Bucket’ Battelley will be unavailable for selection this Saturday.”
Despite being the only team Black Stars are yet to play this season, Keighery knows the key to knocking Cavaliers off.
“The key for us will be in putting pressure on early with the ball and getting a couple of early wickets,” he said.
“The Cavaliers have a couple of strong batsmen at the top of their order, who are known to go on with a big score.
“But with Jarrod Hill and Jamie Stewart available to bowl their seamers and spinners Alistair Baker, Andy Cullis and Nathan Giles in form, I know we have the attack to cause Cavaliers trouble.”
With the bat, Keighery says the recent return of Matt O’Neill only bolsters their already deep batting line-up.
“We will be hoping that Matt O’Neill continues to look after his average at the top of the order,” he said.
“With most of our players having made starts with the bat this season, I’ll be looking to one or two guys to push on and make triple figures in the coming weeks.”
Cavaliers captain Corey Martin emphasised that his team had to improve its bowling if it was to beat the benchmark team in the competition.
“Black Stars are a strong all-round side, and if we are going to beat them, we are going to have to be at our best,” Martin said.
“We have struggled to take 10 wickets lately, so our bowlers will have to step up and do a job for us.
“With the bat, we will again rely on Luke Gowing, Eli Jamieson, Jason Wellington and myself to do a job at the top of the order.
“Each week one of us has gone on and made a big score and that will be needed again this week.”
■Bell and Moir Mount Isa Cricket Association draw: January 31 - Black Stars vs Cavaliers (Sunset), Western Bulls vs Townview (Captain Cook), February 1 - Challengers vs Panthers (Sunset).