THE job with the bat is not quite done yet for Rugby Union when they start the second day of their Bathurst District Cricket Association match against City Colts at Loco Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bulldogs currently sit on 9-325, with Ben Hurford still out in the middle unbeaten on 66, as they aim to gain a foothold on a top two position.
If Colts want to take second place away from Rugby then there’s still work to do with the ball before the chase can begin.
We can’t get too carried away here though because 300 is what I’d consider a par score at Loco.
- Jameel Qureshi
The thoughts on Bulldogs captain Jameel Qureshi on the current situation?
While happy with the innings his team have put together, he goes in cautious.
“Whenever you’re in a position of 325 at the end of the day with one wicket in hand you’ve got to be happy. We can’t get too carried away here though because 300 is what I’d consider a par score at Loco,” he said.
“Colts will likely have a very strong batting lineup. There’s players like Henry Shoemark, who is probably one of the most intimidating batsmen in club cricket at the moment. He’s a nice guy but a ruthless player. If you bowl anything short to him he’s not so nice.
“If we play our part with the ball and take our catches then it will go a long way towards us getting the win.”
Thanks to Rugby’s total, the previous three innings played at Loco Oval have all gone past the 300 mark.
Four Bulldogs batsmen, including Hurford, made half centuries in last Saturday’s opening day.
Tyler Horton (69), Mick Tobin (56) and Jeremy Thackray (56) have put Rugby into a strong position.
Qureshi said there’s encouraging signs from such an innings as the season heads towards its most crucial period.
“I was so happy for Mick Tobin to score some runs. He’s an unorthodox cricketer but he can hit a cricket ball,” he said.
“Tyler Horton is also hitting the ball as clean as anyone going around here at the moment.
“The only disappointing thing I guess out of having four players score half centuries is that none of them went on to score a century.
“If we want to be in the premiers hunt then we need players to take responsibility and go that step further.”
Bulldogs are aiming to enact revenge on Colts for their win over them back in round eight of the one-day season.
Rugby also have the chance to beat Colts twice this season on their own turf, which would follow on from their win in the opening month of the competition.
Saturday’s match at Loco Oval resumes from 1.30pm.
