1st Grade Semi-Final Preview

First Grade Semi-Final Preview

1st Grade Semi-Final Preview
Kiama Cavaliers Vs Albion Park Eagles
Keith Grey Oval
Kiama return to the finals after a season's absence, in which time Albion Park climbed from sixth to finish as premiers. If something that fanciful is to occur this season, there will need to be a complete change of fortunes. Albion Park have remained undefeated this season, apart from the one-day final, while Kiama have lost four of their past five games, one of those to Albion Park, and two heartbreakers to The Rail and cellar dwellers Shellharbour City.

The teams have met twice this season, both resulting in victory to Albion Park, but not without a fight.
In the one day match at Keith Grey Oval on November 26, 2005, Albion Park prevailed by 15 runs in a match that went down to the wire. Albion Park was bowled out for 156 after being 6/90. A seventh wicket partnership of 52 between Dan Abela and Jess Hancock saved the side from a much lower total. The bowling and fielding was exceptional by Kiama, with Tim Richardson finishing with four wickets. In reply, Kiama batted solidly, but perhaps just a little too slowly, and always seemed to lose a wicket as they were beginning to get on top. Still needing only six an over as they approached the total, the wickets still fell at the wrong time, and a couple of batsman played wild shots at a time when singles would have done the job. Kiama were eventually bowled out for 141, just 16 runs from victory with 13 balls remaining in the innings. Jaya Hartgerink's 41 was the standout.
The return two day match at Cavalier Park on January 7 and 14, 2006, was a tale of two weekends. On the first day, Albion Park was bowled out for 155, after being 8/126 at one stage. Matt Meurant took his initial five wicket haul for Kiama in claiming 5/14. In reply, Kiama had lost two wickets by stumps, but appeared to be in the ascendancy. Things changed quickly the following weekend when Matt was dismissed in the first over of the day, and things deteriorated for Kiama. From 2/53 Kiama lost 8/41 to be dismissed for 94. Conceding a lead of 61, Albion Park stuttered early to be 5/34 in their second innings, before ending the day at 8/129, and taking first innings points.

Twice this season, Kiama have had Albion Park on the ropes, but have been unable to come up with the knockout punch. On both occasions the batting has failed to chase down a mid-range total, but it also important to note the two late order partnerships that extended these totals away from 130 to the relative safety of 150+.

If Kiama go into the match confident in their ability to defeat Albion Park, if they apply themselves with the bat, and they choke off easy runs in the field, they can win this match.

Only twice this season has the Kiama bowling conceded more than 200 in an innings, and on both occasions the attack was a weakened one. All six of the senior bowlers in the side took 19 or more wickets during the season, a remarkable achievement. In the bowling department Kiama are at least the equal of the defending premiers.
Much will rely on the ability of Josh Jones, Tim Richardson and Dale Scifleet to make the early incisions into the batting line-up. Curbing the influence of Steve Milgate, Hayden McKay and Graeme Smith at the top of the order will be vital to the side's chances. It will be interesting to see if the Park skipper takes on the number three role himself, or if he waits back in the middle order for the first wave to be completed.
With Kiama's six major bowlers all available there is plenty of flexibility for the skipper to mix his options. Sam Wolf, Matt Meurant and Matt O'Brien will have just as important roles to play as the other three bowlers already mentioned. The pressure valve must not be released for the entire innings, lest the Albion Park batsmen find a gap and get away. While each bowler will be required to put in the maximum effort for their own initial spells, all of the bowlers need to prepare themselves for the possibility of three or four spells during the course of the weekend – not an easy thing to do.
Throughout the season Richo has proved to be adept at drying up the runs. He and Matt will need to be efficient in this job, leaving Josh, Dale, Sam and OB to attack furiously from the other.

Kiama's batsmen will have to discover a method to grind out a competitive total when their turn at the crease comes. On only three occasions has Kiama managed to pass 200 in an innings, twice against the beleaguered Warilla and once against Shellharbour City. They will need to do so again if they want to push the reigning premiers.
In this quest, Dale must be the aggressor, as his natural game has always shaped. This is not to suggest he should be reckless about it, just that he needs to deposit the bad ball to the boundary. This is one of the features of Dale's batting, and he needs to exploit it. Dale's whole career has been building to this point, where he can lead the team with the bat into a grand final. His moment has arrived.
Jaya, Ben Jones and Matt must be solid without getting bogged down. They must continue to turn the strike over, and ensure that the dominant partner, whoever that may be, is receiving the majority of the strike. With three left handers in the top six, it may well be apt to continue to try and have a left-right combination at the crease as much as possible, in an effort throw the Albion Park bowlers off their line and length. Certainly neither John Simon nor Nathan Barr would baulk if the opportunity arose for them to bat higher in the order. Josh and Tim and Xavier Mayes will also have big roles in the middle order.

Belief. Desire. Hunger. These are the things that stand between Kiama and victory. Somewhere in the last three months, Kiama First Grade has lost these three things, and they need to rediscover them quickly. The time for half arsed excuses is over. If the fielding is tight and enthusiastic, and if the bowling is tight and penetrating, and the batting confident and impenetrable, then an upset will occur. It is now up to the eleven selected players to pull on the baggy blue and gold, and do their Club and Town proud.