wycbloods wrote:Well this season has chucked up its fair share of surprises so predicting how the final 3 rounds will pan out will be very difficult but i will give it a go
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Cove are to play: ICC, Keswick and WYC. Cove are currently sitting top in their first season in ASCA but surprisingly could still miss the finals if they were to lose all 3 remaining games, although i think that would be very unlikely but not out of the question. Their form however against the other top 6 sides hasn't been as dominant as it has been against the lower ranked sides. They haven't however been beaten easily by those sides. I would expect them to win at least one of the 3 final games and play finals. Michael Thomas' fitness will play a big role in how they go the next few games. My prediction: Will finish top
WYC are to play Glenelg, ICC and Cove. We have a tough run home and we have been less than impressive against the better sides this year. We have been very reliant with the bat on Hopkins but Matt King's emergence as an all rounder has given us a bit of a lift there. I think we are getting close to getting our batting together and think this will determine how we go the next few games. The same as Cove we are a chance to lose all 3 of these games and that would more than likely result in us missing the finals however winning one would more than likely lead to a finals berth. Need two wins, especially against ICC and Glenelg, to be certain to make the finals. My Prediction: I think we will scrape into the finals in 4th spot
ICC Sharks are to play Cove WYC Sth Rd. Have been pretty consistent this year with their bowlers really looking after the side but certainly have a few match winners in good form. They will need a few batsmen to stand up in the next few weeks as they will play against 3 good attacks. Sampson and Verrall will decide the fate of their side, but i think another person will need to stand up with the bat for them to make the finals, maybe that person is Buttfield. My prediction is for the sharks is to miss the finals.
Coro Ramblers are to play PFCC, WOS and Keswick. Ramblers have the easiest draw of the top 4 sides and i think they will make the most of it. They have a bowling attack that will get them close to an outright win in the next month and two wins. If they are successful in getting the outright they are certainties to play finals. Their batting is their weak point but it won't be getting exposed in the next fortnight as they are facing two of the weaker attacks in the comp. They could still find themselves needing a win against keswick if they can't get that outright but the next 4 weeks will be important for the ramblers. They will need Smith to continue his good form with the willow to ensure they play in the finals. My prediction is top 2.
Glenelg ANA are to play WYC, Morphy Pk and WOS. A win this game would see them make the finals as i think they will win their last two games. I hope we can get past them as we certainly owe them after our narrow loss last year in the SF. Things haven't changed with the bays, they will restrict sides with the ball and just bat time and wear you down. Rowe and Basso are their keys with the bat and Rowe and O'Malley with the ball. Even if they do lose to us this week you can build a case for an outright for them in the last minor round game against WOS, strange things always happen in the last round. My Prediction is they will finish 3rd.
Coromandel are to play Keswick, Sheidow and PFCC. I feel they have left their run to late this year but have a bowling attack very capable of taking 20 wickets in a game so can't be ruled out of the finals race. Lourens will need last years partner in crime Bruce to re capture his form for this to happen. Koirala and Cheek are the keys with the bat but the other players will need to contribute with 20's and 30's to get them enough runs on the board for the bowlers to do their thing. I just can't see them being able to do this consistently enough for the rest of the year. My prediction is for them to narrowly miss the finals.
Keswick, Morphy Pk and Sth Rd have had up and down seasons but have shown their best is well and truly good enough and will have a say as to how the final 4 looks but i can't see them making it.
Good luck to everyone for the rest of the year.
