A MAIDEN century on Australian soil for Mildura East import Josh Andrews is the ideal confidence booster heading into an SCA grand final replay.
East will host adversaries Irymple at Mildura Sporting Precinct in a top two clash for the final round of the calendar year before the festive break.
Englishman Andrews reached triple figures in last round’s important win over Mildura West, hitting 16 boundaries on the way to making 103 from 112 deliveries at the top of the order.
The knock followed earlier half-centuries this season to see him averaging almost 48, while as wicketkeeper he also has 10 catches behind the stumps, the most dismissals by any in the competition this year just ahead of Mildura Settlers’ Will O’Connor and and Nichols Point’s Theo Toddhunter on nine each.
Despite the heat making life tough for the knock, Andrews said his third senior century was a source of pride.
“It was really good, to be able to do it at the home ground as well and against a good team like West was pretty special,” Andrews said.
“I’m usually good for getting a start and maybe not quite going on with it but it was nice to get there, but you need a bit of luck along the way.
“It’s the way I play too, I like to chance my arm a little bit and get on with it.
“Obviously being my second season, I think I’ve got a better understanding of the conditions, the grounds and knowledge of the bowlers as well.
“It probably helps I’m back a bit fitter this time, the conditions here can take it out of you. That innings was a bit of a struggle towards the end with the heat.”
Batting with fellow import and Scottish international Liam Naylor at the top of the order has also been a fun experience for the left-hander.
In seven rounds so far, Andrews and Naylor have passed a half-century for the opening partnership four times, twice making 72 as a pair, at an average of 50.
“We’re both pretty relaxed and easy going and I think that helps,” Andrews said.
“We play in a pretty similar style and if one of us doesn’t score many the other seems to.
“I’ve been enjoying keeping here too. At home it’s a bit more of what we call ‘tennis ball bounce’ where it can harder to read sometimes, but in Australia the ball carries a bit more true, so it’s been great.”
Irymple were far too strong for East in last year’s decider with a Mark Thomson masterclass leading the Swallows to a 229-run win for the premiership.
Heading into the final contest of the year, Andrews is anticipating a tough contest.
“Both teams are in really good form at the moment and it should be a great contest, hopefully for our sake we can make it a bit closer than last year’s grand final,” he said.
“We’re just taking it as it comes, if we can close that gap on them at the top it will go a long way to us being in a good position for finals again.”
ROUND 8 SCA MATCHES
Mildura East v Irymple – Mildura Sporting Precinct
Mildura Settlers v Nichols Point – Mildura Senior College
Coomealla Wentworth v Merbein – George Gordon Oval
Gol Gol v Mildura West – Alcheringa Oval
