As the cricket season readies to restart after the Christmas break, the Queanbeyan Cricket Club first grade side will be looking to resume their climb up the ladder following a lacklustre start to the two-day competition.
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Having begun well in the one-day matches, with four wins, two losses, and a draw from their seven matches, the longer format beckoned.
However, in its first-round match against Ginninderra over Saturday November 24 and Saturday December 1, Queanbeyan fell victim to an astonishing batting performance, despite posting a strong first innings total of 329 (Dukoski 117, M. Solway 61, Walker 59).
Ginninderra’s Rhys Healy responded with a mammoth 202 from 287 deliveries, and he was ably supported Dylan Faram (97). This led to Ginninderra’s reply of 5-358, and although there was no time in the match left for a second innings, it secured a first-innings victory.
Queanbeyan’s second match against Western District UC was similarly hard-fought, but a much lower-scoring affair.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bowl, Queanbeyan’s Mark Solway was the star of the first innings, with his haul of 5-55 which removed Western District for 236.
In response, Queanbeyan were reduced to to 4-121 before the rain interceded and caused the match to be declared a draw. Although they were in a precarious position, Dean Solway was looking good on 67 not out and had put his side in a position to make a good contest out of the match.
Despite the lack of long-form cricket since early December, the Bluebags will go into this weekend’s match with some form.
Since December 13, the Konica Minolta Premier T20 Cup has been played throughout Canberra, and although Queanbeyan’s form has been mercurial throughout, it will ensure that they have some form under their belt leading into Saturday’s return to the two-day competition.
The match against ANU is one that Queanbeyan need to win if it hopes to secure a spot in the top four. ANU is currently fourth on the ladder, and with one win and one loss, will be leapfrogged by the Bluebags should it lose and Eastlake lose its match against second-ranked Tuggeranong Valley.
Queanbeyan’s two-day fixture will begin at 11.00am on January 12 and 13.
