One of the association’s quiet achievers will look to take down some of the most dangerous batsmen in the weekend’s preliminary final.
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Lavington off-spinner Will Heriot has played second fiddle to the Panthers’ well-documented pace attack, but he actually has the second-most wickets with 26 at 11.1.
Speedster Nathan Brown tops the club list with 29.
The Panthers host Tallangatta at the Lavington Sportsground.
“Obviously we're going very well as a team, I think that definitely helps, and just involved in a great club and a lot of people are happy to help,” he said of his breakout season.
“The quicks do so much hard work and if they’re not taking wickets, they’re not going for a heap of runs.”
The 22-year old is now in his fifth season at provincial level.
He claimed 14 scalps in 2014-15 and has gradually improved with 15 and 19 wickets in the past two years respectively.
He’s taken two four-wicket hauls this season, including 4-60 from 20 overs in the semi-final win over New City last weekend.
The preliminary finals boast the most star-studded lineups of recent years.
The match will feature two former international players – a first for the association in a preliminary final.
Lavington’s ex-Kiwi quick Daryl Tuffey claimed 190 international scalps, including 77 Test wickets, while the Bushies’ Dilhara Lokuhettige played nine ODI’s and two T20’s.
Lokuhettige is also an explosive batsman, but he’ll be desperate to hit form against the competition’s best bowling outfit.
The visitors boast four of the most damaging players in overseas imports Lokuhettige and Sahib Malhotra, as well as coach Matt Armstrong and Nathan Thompson.
“Yeah definitely, they’ve got a really strong and explosive batting lineup and they bowl and field well,” Heriot said.
“They’re a quality side, it will be tough to beat them.”
Former Sri Lankan all-rounder Lokuhettige has made just the one score since Christmas – 43 – against Wodonga Raiders, while Armstrong started with a half-century that day, but hasn’t passed double figures in his last six innings against the red ball in the two-dayers.
Lavington could hardly be in better shape.
Opener Sam O’Connor has hit form with 69, 44 and 72 in his last three knocks, Brown has two half-centuries in his last four, while Tuffey averages 50 in the two-dayers.
The only hiccup for the Panthers has been the form of opener Matt Tom, who’s made only 45 runs in his last five innings, including four single-figure scores.
The Bushies are coming off a loss to North Albury, so it will take a monumental effort to stop Lavington.
