O’Hara stumps Doig early damage

By David Nagel
TWO-DAY cricket puts a smile on some player’s faces and one of those is Kooweerup’s (8/261) master of concentration Chris O’Hara (92) who, with the help of two able allies, led his team to a meritorious victory over Cardinia (251) on Saturday.
O’Hara’s superb technique and undeniable mental strength was tested to its fullest in the run chase, after the visiting Bulls struck three telling blows to be on top early.
Michael Giles (9), Shane Dole (19) and skipper Travis Canavan (0) were all done and dusted with the score on 45 and it was that pesky little spinner Dwayne Doig (4/71 off 36.4) who was doing most of the damage. Doig had Dole stumped by Luke Turner and followed that quickly with the rattling of Canavan’s stumps to give the rampaging Bulls all the momentum.
O’Hara needed a wing-man and he got it in the form of Demons’ keeper Chris Bright (86) who took the scoring pressure away from O’Hara by dominating a 128-run fourth-wicket stand. With Bright scoring freely the opener took no risks with the dangerous Doig, who once again bowled a long spell at less than two runs an over.
Troy Darose (2/17 off four) terminated Bright’s influential knock with the score on 4/173 and when he trapped Trent Cochrane (1) two runs later this finals appetiser had just got that bit tastier. Another Bulls v Demons classic was on the menu.
O’Hara would have been a happy man when he saw who was walking through the gate next; Matt Davey (27) is one of the most experienced players in the competition. The two did what they do best and put on 62 for the sixth wicket, taking the Demons to the brink of victory before Davey departed.
John Bright (10) averted any potential disasters to see the Demons home with O’Hara by his side. Doig took two late wickets after the match was gone to give his figures a good pump up but it was O’Hara who won this chapter in a long running battle between the two. Another great battle between the top two sides but it makes us all none the wiser who has the upper hand come finals time.