ON THE MONEY: Exies quick Warren Bock’s four-wicket haul on Saturday against Diggers ensured his side would confirm their spot in the Peter Davis One-Day Cup final next month.
EXIES have booked a spot in the Peter Davis One-Day Cup decider next month after paceman Warren Bock helped set up an easy six-wicket win over reigning champions Diggers on Saturday at West End Oval.
In what was effectively the final before the final, Bock took four key wickets as Diggers uncharacteristically rolled over for just 58 runs, relinquishing their limited overs crown in the process.
Exies had no trouble getting the score required and will now face the Coro Cougars in the one-day decider on Sunday, March 3.
“We’re pretty happy,” said Bock.
“It’s always nice to be in the final and to knock off the team that won both the one-dayers and the two-dayers last season is a pretty decent effort.
“But we’ve got to think about the two-day games now before we can worry about that.”
Bock finished with figures of 4-20 runs from his 10-over spell.
Together with Mark Semmler (3-18) and skipper Marc Tucker (2-16), he blitzed through Diggers’ top order, removing arguably four of the team’s best batsmen.
First he cleaned up both openers by trapping Pat Whittard (eight) in front and slipping through the defences of Scott Smith (three).
Then Bock skittled number four bat Mick Duncan (eight) and claimed dangerman Jarrod Cahill (zero), who was caught behind.
Only one Diggers batsman - Dean Crack (11) - reached double figures.
“I had a good day but none of us bowled badly,” the modest Bock said.
“We put them on the back foot right from the start. There wasn’t much in the pitch either.
“One end was keeping the ball low and it moved a bit but the other was pretty flat.
“We thought the game would be a lot closer than what it was.”
Exies had a couple of early hiccups on what was a short run chase, losing opener Rick Merz for two to leave the side at 1-5.
But it didn’t take much to reach the target with Tom Burge (18 not out) and Tucker (16) delivering the goods.
“It’s never easy chasing a small total. Cricket’s a funny game sometimes,” Bock said.
