GOT HIM: Teammates mob local leg-spin promise Blake Ritorto after another wicket in Sunday’s narrow Warren Smith Cup final loss to Wagga.
GRIFFITH’S gallant attempt to secure the Warren Smith Cup for the first time fell just 25 runs short in Sunday’s final against Wagga at Exies No.2.
The home side clawed back from the abyss after Wagga posted a seemingly insurmountable score of 250 runs for victory in the opening innings.
Despite faltering to 1-14 following the loss of Todd Argus, a heroic run chase led by the unbeaten Matt Peruzzi (38 not out), Luke Shannon (35) and Riley Holland (27) brought Griffith back into the contest.
But Wagga kept making regular breakthroughs and snapping pairings that packed plenty of promise at the crease, coach John Munro said.
“Chasing a score that big was always going to be a difficult challenge but we put up a terrific fighting effort,” he said.
“Peruzzi, Shannon, Holland and Toby Polkinghorne all batted pretty well. But we couldn’t build any real substantial partnerships and nobody was able to turn their start into a really good score.”
The coin toss assisted Wagga in establishing a firm grip on the game, with the batsman-friendly deck at Exies No.2 allowing the visitors to find an early groove.
Their six batsmen all dished out the hurt, with opener Jordan Neill top-scoring with 50 and first drop Tim Cox smacking 42.
Griffith toiled with the ball but for little reward, with leg-spinner Blake Ritorto (4-62) the only standout.
Wagga smacked a total of 20 boundaries while the home side contributed a whopping 30 runs in the form of sundries.
It was that lack of discipline that proved the difference in the end, Munro said.