ULLADULLA United and Bomaderry will both be hoping to have more luck when they return for the second day of their clash at Ulladulla Sports Park tomorrow.
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Both teams went into the game in need of points and were disappointed when only four balls could be bowled before the pitch was deemed unplayable.
Because a start was made, the match will still be played as a two-dayer, meaning they will have to work hard to take points out of it.
Bomaderry are currently sitting in the top four, but are looking for more points to improve their position, while Ulladulla desperately need a result to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
Blake Munilla and Jason Bell will resume for Bomaderry at 0/1 and both will be expected to play a key role with the bat.
Skipper Jordan Matthews, John Muggleton and the experienced Ben Lynch will all have a job to do if Bomaderry get their turn with the ball later in the day.
Ulladulla have struggled in some of their recent games and will be hoping the likes of Harley Bell will repeat some of his heroics from earlier in the season with the bat, while Peter King and Michael Devlin will be looking to continue their good form with the ball.
The first innings looks set for an exciting finish at Berry Sporting Complex, where the home side is in a spot of bother against Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen.
Both sides struggled with the bat on day one, with Ex-Servos being bowled out for 106, thanks to good bowling from Ty Cherry (4/44) and Phil Dell’Orefice (3/16).
The Magpies found it even tougher when they got their turn to bat, slumping to 6/29 when the in-form Lain Beckett ripped through their top order.
There has been a bit of rear-guard action for the Magpies who made it to 8/78 at stumps with Blygh Herron (17) and Phil Dell’Orefice (2), the two batsmen who will be trying to secure first innings points for their side.
But there is still plenty of work for them to do and with Lain Beckett having taken 7/18 from 13 overs, first innings points are still a long way off.
While the first innings looks set to be over with reasonably quickly, there is still a full day of cricket to be played, leaving either side with the opportunity to redeem themselves in the second innings, or push for an outright victory.
Bay and Basin will also have the chance to go for an outright victory in their clash with North-Nowra Cambewarra at Sanctuary Point Oval.
The home side already secured first innings points last week after bowling out Norths for 114, thanks to a record-breaking spell of 8/36 from their captain Jonathan Hill.
Michael Labb (49) and Tom Mason (37) enjoyed some time in the middle, with Basin reaching 4/120 at stumps.
Basin still have plenty of batting to come, including Hill and are well-placed to build a big total when they continue batting.
Speaking of big totals, that is exactly what Batemans Bay has to chase in their clash with Nowra at Nowra Showground.
While none of their batsmen went on to make massive scores, the home side built a big total thanks to contributions from just about everyone.
Scott Fagerlund was the top-scorer with 51, while Adam Ison (49) Ben Lahene (39) and Daniel Bryant (36) also chipped in.
Nowra were 9/297 at stumps and they will resume with Kurt Quinlan on 31 and Alex Legge on 10 if they choose to continue batting.
While it may seem like a big ask, it would not be the first time Batemans Bay have managed a total like it this season.
Matt Sethi has made two hundreds this season and Batemans Bay managed 300 on both occasions, so they will know it is possible.
Paul Gallen has also been in good knick with the bat, after making 93 to lead them to their first win of the season against Ulladulla in the last round.
By the same token, Nowra boast one of the strongest bowling line-ups in the competition, with Justin Weller, Michael Coulter and Alex Legge all near the top of the leading wicket-takers list.
With only one more round remaining after tomorrow, this week’s results will no doubt have an effect on the makeup of the semi-finals.