CRICKET Albury-Wodonga’s fate in the Konica Minolta Twenty20 Cup rests in the balance after a mixed outing in Canberra yesterday.
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The team played two games, losing the first to Western Districts University before a comfortable win over Eastlake.
Wodonga’s Trent Ball was the standout in both, but a place in the semi-final now depends on other results.
Captain James McNeil said his team’s bowling and fielding had been exceptional all day, keeping WDU to 8-125 and Eastlake to 106.
“We were really good in the field both times and our bowlers were exceptional,” he said.
“Our batsmen probably left a little bit to be desired.”
Ball scored 54 first up before wrapping things up in a hurry in the second with a 10-ball 32.
Dylan Weeding did a fine job with the gloves.
“Chris Bridle batted pretty well too,” McNeil said.
He said while the loss was disappointing, it had spurred on the team.
“We probably should have won the first game and then we should have shoo-in for the finals,” he said.
“You don’t get through to the finals on a one and three, so it was something that motivated us.”
Cameron White was the pick of the CAW bowlers in the first game with 4-16.
“He bowled exceptionally well as did everyone else,” McNeil said.
“Then, in the second game, Zach Simmonds bowled out the best two batsmen in Canberra.”
Although the team has to wait and see whether its campaign still has life, McNeil said he was happy with the side he’d taken.
“The atmosphere has been good. We all get along and they’re a great bunch of blokes,” he said.
“It’s been great that pretty much everyone we’ve asked to play has put their hand up, and it’s been a Twenty20-specific team so it’s not just the best 50 or 80-over batsmen and bowlers in the comp.”
McNeil said CAW’s pool had been one of the toughest.
“I envisage the team that wins our pool will win the comp,” he said.
“Some of the top-ranked teams in Canberra were in our pool.”
Scores: Western Districts University 8-125 (C White 4-16); CAW 102 (T Ball 54). Western Districts University won by 23 runs. Eastlake 106 (Z Simmonds 2-11); CAW 7-108 (T Ball 32, C Bridle 30). CAW won by three wickets.