CFN: Matthews saves Mulgrave’s day, but bats need to step up

Mulgrave skipper Justin Reid has challenged his batsmen to give more support to the bowlers in Saturday’s Cricket Far North grand final after a semi-final scare of monumental proportions against Atherton.

Mulgrave skipper Justin Reid has challenged his batsmen to give more support to the bowlers in Saturday’s Cricket Far North grand final after a semi-final scare of monumental proportions against Atherton.

“The batters will need to step up this week,” he said.

“You can hit as many balls as you want in the nets, but everyone’s a bit underdone from not playing much since Christmas, so you go out and just want to get bat on ball, but then you nick them.

“It’s just all mental, we’ve just got to pace ourselves.”

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While the Toads pulled off a miraculous victory over the Tablelanders at Walker Road Sporting Precinct last weekend, their batting line-up left much to be desired as they initially struggled at the crease.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Mulgrave lost three quick wickets to slip to 3/6 in the fourth over, before they looked all but out of the contest at 6/25 in the 12th.

Despite the poor start, the Toads recovered courtesy of a 49-run seventh-wicket partnership between Wade Matthews (41*) and Jake Roach (39), and a crucial 21-run final-wicket stand between Matthews and Maxwell Davies-Griffith, to reach 107.

Atherton would have felt confident in chasing down the below-par score but Mulgrave, led by the in-form Matthews, were able to knock them over for a paltry 64.

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Matthews took the important wickets of Dan Parnell, Paul Nasser and Tom Boorman early in the innings, as well as Caleb Constant and Seppe Barletta late on to seal the victory for Mulgrave with personal figures of 5/15.

Roach also chipped in, taking 3/8 from his five overs, while Will Robertson was economical as ever, going for no runs in his first six overs before finishing with figures of 1-10 from his 10 overs, including seven maidens.

“The start was pretty bad, being 6/25, but I was confident if we posted 100 we could defend it,” Reid said.

“We haven’t batted first much this year but I thought in finals I’ve got to back the boys to defend any total.

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“We were trying to bowl that little bit shorter, just back of a length, and there was a little bit of variable bounce but we just bowled unreal.

“That’s definitely the best bowling performance I’ve been a part of. I think we got one wide. We just did not give them anything to score from and the pressure got to them.”

Reid said Matthews’ unbeaten 41 from 111 balls was a turning point in the match, and helped shift momentum back into Mulgrave’s favour.

“He knows his game really well now and he just applied himself perfectly,” Reid said.

“He waited for the ball in his zones and then hit them when they were there. He sort of showed the rest of the batting order what to do.”

Mulgrave will take on minor premiers Rovers in the Cricket Far North first-grade grand final this Saturday at Griffiths Park. “We’re ready to go, just hopefully the weather stays clear and we can have a good crack,” Reid said.

Originally published as CFN: Matthews saves Mulgrave’s day, but bats need to step up