Elliot Stevenson
A place in the CTPL 2-Day Grand Final is up for grabs as Kingborough is set to put its undefeated streak on the line against New Town at the Twin Ovals this weekend.
The Knights are undefeated since losing to University in a T20 semi-final in December and have won every single 2-day game across the season.
Playing-coach Tom Martyn is thrilled his side has the opportunity to win a second consecutive 2-day premiership.
“We’re really excited,” he said.
“It’s the reason why we play, to play in finals and hopefully win them as well.
“It’s an exciting time for the club.”
Kingborough will welcome back opening batsman and spin bowler Nivethan Radhakrishnan to the lineup, with Patrick Harnwell making room for the more experienced player.
Martyn insists nothing will change with the Knights’ approach, with consistency the main theme for the reigning premiers.
“It’s through consistent performances across the board,” he said.
“We’re not asking anyone on the weekend to do something they haven’t done all year.
“It’s just playing the same game and repeating it.”
This weekend serves as a replay of the Round 25 matchup between the two sides last weekend, in which Kingborough finished 65-run winners at New Town Oval.
The win has set the blueprint for the Knights, but Martyn ensures their opponents will be equally prepared heading into the semi-final.
“Obviously, having beaten them last week, it puts us in a really good spot and makes us confident,” he said.
“But we also know that Peter [Di Venuto] and Joe [Randall] will have the boys really well prepared for us.
“I think the sides will look fairly similar, so we just need to be ready and know their strengths just as much as they’ll know our strengths.”
Having somewhat limped into the finals, University will need to find its best as it hosts Greater Northern in the other do-or-die semi-final this weekend.
The Lions are winless in their last four games, including an outright loss to the Raiders earlier this month.
Despite their poor run of form, Uni managed to finish second in the table, largely attributed to their brilliant start to the season in which they won both white ball premierships before Christmas.
They face a Greater Northern side that has won two consecutive matches, including last weekend's win or go home matchup against Lindisfarne at ANZAC Park.
The Raiders will be led by captain-coach Alistair Taylor, who has made two centuries in his last three games for the club and is arguably the form batsman in the competition.
Taylor sits third in the runs tally for the season, behind only Glenorchy’s Josh Hartill, and University captain Param Uppal, who leads the pack.
Uppal’s form was irresistible for much of the season, but he has failed to hit the mark in any of his last five games, a record which the Lions will want to see overturned in this weekend’s semi-final.
Despite this, Uppal continues to impress with the ball, taking 7/36 off 24 overs against Kingborough in late February, and will be key for University’s chances this weekend.
Both semi-finals will be played over the 22nd and 23rd of March, and the winners will qualify directly for next weekend’s grand final.