With Griffith set to reach 39 degrees on Saturday, the Griffith District Cricket Association first grade competition is assured to produce some heated exchanges.
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None will feel the heat, and the pressure, more than Yenda and Diggers who go head-to-head at Wade Park on Saturday.
As far as the heat goes, Yenda captain Brett Hazelman had some simple advice for his charges.
“You sort of have put it to the back of your mind,” Hazelman said of the high predicted temperature.
“The only thing you have to worry about is your game and just try and block the heat factor out.”
The result of the match between Yenda and Diggers will have a massive bearing on the final.
Diggers sit just two points ahead of Yenda on the ladder and the winner would take a huge step towards securing a spot in the finals.
Both teams missed an opportunity to go one up on the other last week.
Diggers succumbed to Exies – who kept its finals hopes alive – by seven wickets.
The Jets lost by the same amount as Matt Staines provided more than half of Yenda’s runs.
The loss could have been much worse if Staines – who was dropped several times – was removed earlier.
“You take his (Staines) score out and we could have been bowled out for 40 or 50,” Hazelman said.
“We’ve just got to play a lot better cricket than last week. We were very ordinary with he bat.
“I think we bowled 17 wides too, compared to Coro with only three or four. It’s not just one or two of us it’s everyone (who needs to improve).”
The match starts at 1pm.
Umpire appointments:
Friday: third grade elimination final, Leagues v Coleambally at Exies No. 1; Richie Alvaro, Peter Davis. Saturday: first grade, Exies v Hanwood at Exies No. 2; Ken Cunningham. Diggers v Yenda at Yenda; Gordon Browne. Leagues v Coro at Hanwood; Joe Catanzariti, Tim Gumbleton. Second grade, Coro v Leagues at SG2; Stan Penrith. Yenda v Diggers at Collina; Garry Tucker. Third grade qualifying final, Coro v Hanwood at Exies No. 1; Ritchie Alvaro, Roy Binks. Sunday: Creet Cup Final, Leeton; Peter Davis, Richie Alvaro.