Griffith fall to Wagga in Warren Smith Cup

After being sent into bat by the visitors, Bryce Rogers and Ben Rowston tired to lay the foundation for their side, but when Rowston (6) fell to the bowling of Jarrod Mcleod (3/23) with the score on 11, Griffith needed to restart early.

Rogers and Ed Toole looked to make sure the fall of Rowston didn’t derail their innings as the pair put on 22 for the second-wicket partnership before Rogers (8) was caught by Blake Walker off the bowling of Ethan Pitkin (1/15).

The one struggle for Griffith was finding a top-order batsman to carry on and get a big score with a number of batsmen able to get starts.

Toole and Jack Cullen kept their side moving forward with their biggest partnership of the innings before Toole (19) was trapped in front by Chandler Cox (3/18).

The introduction of Sam Smith into the attack would prove to be difficult to deal with for the Griffith side as they lost two quick wickets with Cullen (20) and Isaac Testoni (0) fell in successive deliveries as Smith’s first over finished in a double-wicket maiden.

Jack Hutchinson was able to see off the hat-trick ball and with James Buchanan were able to get the side to 90 before Hutchinson (6) became Smith’s (4/21) third wicket.

Buchanan (21) was the only other batsmen to get into double digits as Griffith were eventually bowled out for 118 in 33.5 overs.

Wagga was able to make a strong start in reply with Cruse Chambers and Damien Apps getting their side to 36 before Chambers (16) was stumped by Isacc Testoni off the bowling of Ed Toole (2/20).

Apps and Josh Mills added 16 runs before the fall of Mills (8), who was another to be stumped off the bowling of Toole, triggered three wickets with Apps (15) and Blake Walker (0) falling to the bowling of Jack Hutchinson (2/27).

With the score on 4/52, Griffith looked like they might be getting on top, but Smith and Chandler Cox had other ideas.

The pair were able to put together what would turn out to be a match-winning partnership of 50 runs to get the side to within 16 runs of victory with 17.2 overs to spare when Smith (31) was run out by Testoni.

While Ryan Bourne (0) and Cox (22) fell to the bowling of Rogers (2/20), Darcy Irvine (5*) and Kai Watts (1*) were able to guide their side to three-wicket victory with 12.4 overs remaining.