The first day’s play at Raby Oval on Saturday was another one that got away from the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts.
Campbelltown won the toss and invited Manly to bat first in the round eight clash, the last before Christmas 2020.
The visitors said “thank you very much’’, and proceeded to smash almost 300 runs.
However at one stage the Ghosts had Manly reeling at 6 for 136, but that was about as good as it got for the home side.
Manly’s middle order started to sizzle from that point on, and off the back of a century and a 60 run haul by the number seven and eight batsmen went on to finish with 298 runs in the bag.
So instead of chasing less than 200 for victory, the Ghosts will need 299 for victory this Saturday.
The bowling attack shared the wickets, but special mention must go to Brock Larance, who bowled a mammoth 30 overs for two wickets that cost him 98 runs.
That was almost a third of all of the overs bowled by the Ghosts – 95.5 – by the time the last wicket fell.
Larance’s bowling also included 11 maiden overs, making his figures even more impressive.
Sam Skelly claimed 2 for 28, Ben Patterson 2 for 16, while Luke Webb finished with 1 for 44 from his 14 overs.
The Ghosts could have done with the services of leg spinner Tanveer Sangha, who is on Big Bash League duty with Sydney Thunder.
The young spinner, who is pictured appealing for an lbw, made an impressive BBL debut, claiming two wickets for the Thunder against the Melbourne Stars.
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After dismissing Penrith for 137, the Fairfield Liverpool Lions are ahead in the first innings after finishing with 6 for 151 at stumps on Saturday.
The Lions, who have shown some good form lately, look set to press for an outright victory and 12 vital premiership points when play resumes this Saturday at Howell Oval, Penrith.
