Last week Kelso High Campus cricket coach David Amaral told the Western Advocate that it would be lovely to roll Albury High School but realised it would be unrealistic.
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But on Tuesday afternoon, dream became reality as Kelso really did make easy work of Albury in their Alan Davidson Shield Match quarter final match at Alexandra Oval.
The result puts the current Combined High Schools Western Zone champions one game closer to conquering New South Wales, as they reached the semi-finals for the first time.
The Kelso boys, who left for Albury on Monday, put in a great all-round performance to bowl their southern rivals out for just 120, after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.
Amaral said bowler Brendan Pallier was influential in turning the result in favour of his team.
“Brendan ripped through them, taking 5-14. He had them for 4-10 off nine overs,” Amaral said.
“Albury put on a partnership from the ninth to 30th over, but they didn’t get the quick runs.
“Mark [Day] and Connor [Slattery] led the team really well, but all round, everyone stepped up.
“They all bowled tight. It was a pace wicket, so there was not much spin bowling.”
Kelso caught the Albury total with a score of 4-123 off 32, with eight overs to spare.
Slattery (47 runs, not out) belted home a six, to win the game for his school.
Deua Berry topped scored with 53 runs, before being caught and bowled out by Albury’s Jacob Koschitzke.
Amaral said the boys played “really well”.
“I’m a hashtag proud coach. The boys put in 100 per cent and it showed,” he said.
“We probably didn’t have the best team on paper, but you don’t win on paper.
“The boys are just happy playing with each other. There is a lot of mateship out there and if they drop a catch, they don’t dwell on but move on as team.”
Either Figtree High School or Kirrawee High School will be up next Kelso.
A result between Figtree and Kirrawee is expected by Friday, after the game was postponed due to a wash out.
The other semi-final match will between two of either Alstonville, Whitebridge or Epping Boys High School or Tamworth’s Farrer Agricultural High School.
The final will be played on Tuesday, April 4.