FOLLOWING a five-wicket haul in his first bowling stint for the season, Nichols Point’s Daniel Chapman says the key to a strong performance was a good line and knowing when to attack.
Chapman, who opened the bowling for the Pointers along with Rakii Woetai, took 5/16 after his side set Mildura Settlers a target of 125 to chase.
The five-wicket haul, including the scalps of well-established top-order batsmen Jason Morrison, Luke Stanbrook, Andrew Petrie, and Richie Wyld, was instrumental in holding Mildura Settlers to 90 in 33.4 overs to secure the Pointers’ first win of the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) First Division season.
It was the former captain’s third five-wicket haul for Nichols Point and earned him the Coomealla Club Player of the Round nomination for round 9.
Heading into his first game with the ball, Chapman said he took it upon himself to have a good game but said his partnership with Woetai had helped increase the pressure after Morrison’s wicket fell.
“We’ve bowled a lot together and we knew it was probably time to put the foot on the throat and start attacking them,” he said.
Settlers, who came into the match following a two-day win over Coomealla Wentworth in December, were 1/11 at the time and soon fell to 6/18.
While the Pointers went on to take their first victory of the campaign, Chapman said the team remained grounded as they got into the Settlers’ lower-middle order.
“They’re obviously well respected and a good batting team. We knew we had the job ahead of us,” he said. “And young Liam Goss put on a decent innings toward the end and definitely made us have to put in that extra 10 per cent.”
Goss, who entered the pitch with Settlers at 7/33, hit 41 runs before being bowled by Mitchell Lindsey.
Reflecting on his first bowling performance for the season, after rain washed out round six and he missed rounds seven and eight, Chapman said he focused on bowling at the stumps and showing respect to the Settlers’ batsmen.
It was an all-round team-effort with the ball for Nichols Point, with 14-year-old Mitch Lindsey taking 2/23 in his first division debut.
“He’s got this enthusiasm that’s pretty infectious and having him out there – that’s the future of the club,” Chapman said.
“We probably enjoyed the game a bit more on the weekend, because it’s exciting with the young kids coming through the ranks.”
Nichols Point currently sit seventh on the ladder but have a chance to gain ground on sides hovering about the top four, beginning with a one-day clash with fifth-placed Mildura East this Saturday.
But regardless of the results in their five remaining fixtures, Chapman said the side hoped to retain a positive attitude.
“As a collective we’re just looking to finish off the season positive and keep that camaraderie with everyone.”
As the SCA Player of the Round, Chapman receives a $50 voucher from the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club.
