The Criterion Bin Chickens have sewn up top spot on the South West Slopes Cricket League C Grade ladder ahead of finals after an 88-run win over the Temora Exies Renegades at Nixon Park on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Bin Chickens stumbled out of the blocks, with their top three combining for a total of just three runs. Number four Joel Pitchard was the first batsman to produce a knock of substance, scoring 27 runs before being bowled by Guinevere Drumore.
The cheap dismissals of Todd Lemon (7) and Cole Bloor (5) continued the poor run in the middle order, with Declan Hurcum also only managing two runs. In the end it was left to lower order batsmen Matthew Dunn and Ethan Richens, with the former scoring a good looking 43 off 71 before being bowled by Deklan Moore. Richens however would go on to reach his half-century, top scoring for the Criterion side before he was caught on 52.
A score of 1 to Adam Bloor and a handy contribution of 15 not out off 9 balls from number 11 Craig Wills saw the Bin Chickens post a total of 10/178 in 39.1 overs.
In reply, it was much the same for the Renegades, with Jake Humphrey the only batsman to crack double figures in the top four, with his innings coming to an end on 27 after being caught by Declan Hurcum. The misery continued throughout the middle and lower order for the Temora side, with Oscar Block, Guinevere Drumore and Arush Singh all dismissed for ducks, with Drumore’s being golden.
In the end, only Deklan Moore (13) and Dominic Drumore (18 not out) joined Humphrey in making double figures, as the Renegades were dismissed for a disappointing total of 10/90. Criterion Vice-Captain Ethan Richens told the Young News that after the disappointing start, a rebuild from the middle order afforded the lower order batsmen, including himself, to target some of the Renegades’ lesser bowlers with the older ball.
“We had our captain out which is always a big loss for us but we have no credit to the Renegades,” he said.
“They ran on us early with I think three for five or something, [but] a couple of blokes stood up, saw off the opening bowlers, and allowed a few of us to come in and score a fair few runs and put them on the board.
“I’ve said it all year, we just needed to kick in the gear.
“We’ve got the bowling line up to beat any team, we just need to work on our batting, and that’s sort of what’s happened over the last seven or eight weeks, which is good.”
Despite Criterion flourishing after the B Grade/C Grade split following Christmas and the side firming as title favourites, Richens said that the team are not getting carried away with themselves.
“We’re just game to game,” he said.
“A fair few of us have over the years, and we’ve gone through the season undefeated and lost Grand Finals, it’s happened a couple of times.
“We’re just focusing on game to game, just going out there making sure that we’re taking our catches and our opportunities, and hoping the rest falls into place.
“I wouldn’t say we’re favourites or anything like that, we’re definitely beatable, but we just go out and have fun and try to do the little things well.”
Standing between the Bin Chickens and a Grand Final appearance are the Bribbaree Rams, who themselves had a dominant six wicket win over a Temora side on the weekend in the Shamrock Leprechauns. With the two Young-based sides sharing a healthy rivalry and a few close encounters this season, Richens said that anything could happen come Saturday at Gus Smith Oval.
-Tallon Smith
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