A RESURGENT Tallangatta has followed up its impressive run chase last week with almost 300 against Belvoir at Kelly Park on Saturday.
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The Bushies were at one stage 2-19 and had struggled to 50 off the first 20 overs before a succession of solid partnerships set up the big score.
Captain Mat Armstrong top scored with 63 before being run out late in the day, while Nathan Thompson followed his century last week with 48.
Fraser Bremner (45), Ned McCormack (41) along with Englisghmen James Weighell (45) and Josh Bousfield (34) were all among the runs.
Armstrong said despite a slow start they were always confident of setting a score.
“It was a good fightback and we always look to set ourselves up for the last 30 overs of the day,” he said.
“But the important thing was the fact that it was a team effort, a series of good partnerships, batsmen who went on to get 40 and 50.
“After the initial setback we didn’t lose any wickets in bundles and that swung the momentum in our favour and it was always going to be tough for them to swing it back their way.”
But Armstrong said they will have to work hard to beat a Belvoir side which has to win to be a chance of playing finals cricket.
“It’s a competitive score on a ground that you get plenty of value for your shots,” he said.
“But we’ll still have to bowl well, take our catches if we are to win.”
Belvoir captain Ryan McNeil believes if they bat out the day the Eagles will better the victory target of 295.
They have posted 300-plus scores in their past two innings at Kelly Park.
“It was difficult to bat in the first hour or so but credit to Tallangatta, they batted well and have set a decent target,” he said.
“But if we can bat out the 80 overs we will go close to wining the game.
“Kelly Park is a small ground with a quick outfield, so we think we’re well and truly in the game and the fact is we have to win.”
Zac Simmonds (5-90) shouldered the burden for the home side — brought on to stem the flow of runs in the first 20 overs the spinner sent down 30 overs for the day in taking his third five-wicket haul of the season.
Michael Spiteri took four catches for the Eagles, the first off Nick Wood for a duck at the start of play.
