BARRABOOL 1st XI captain Michael Kelson said it would be a big achievement for the side to make the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association finals after losing about half the team during the off-season.<\/p>\n
The Bulls are without star English import Ed Morrison and have lost players to the Geelong Cricket Association, while others returned to their home clubs or had family commitments.<\/p>\n
Last year’s semi-finalists are in an enthralling race to secure fourth spot with one-and-a-half rounds remaining.<\/p>\n
Fourth-placed Barrabool and fifth-ranked Jan Juc are both on 30 points.<\/p>\n
Kelson said the Bulls would be stoked to make finals.<\/p>\n
“Once you make finals, you only have to win two games and you win the whole thing; it’s not an extended finals period.<\/p>\n
“And we’re batting well \u2013 we’ve actually batted quite well during the year \u2013 so we think if we can win a toss in a semi-final, we can put on a score that may not be gotten.”<\/p>\n
But first Barrabool has to got to get there, and the side has batted itself into a strong position against ladder-leader Armstrong Creek, posting 8-206.<\/p>\n
The reliable Kane Pickering hit 82 as the top four all got starts against a quality bowling attack on a big ground.<\/p>\n
Kelson said Barrabool would have liked 20 more runs but were happy with their competitive total.<\/p>\n
He praised fellow opener Shane Stevens’ important stay at the crease to get through a tough period.<\/p>\n
He said the Bulls’ focus on day two would be about strangling Armstrong Creek with their bowling and being clean in the field.<\/p>\n
“A low 200s score is a score where you need to take your catches and field well. If you do that, then you give yourself every chance.”<\/p>\n
In other contests tomorrow (Saturday, February 22), Jan Juc is defending 179 against Anglesea, Barwon Heads is chasing Drysdale’s 257 and Queenscliff are looking to reel in Ocean Grove’s 167.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BARRABOOL 1st XI captain Michael Kelson said it would be a big achievement for the side to make the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association finals after losing about half the team during the off-season. The Bulls are without star English import Ed Morrison and have lost players to the Geelong Cricket Association, while others returned to […]<\/p>\n