St George 4-161
Manly 138
IT WAS a below-par performance few club insiders saw coming.
In front of a healthy crowd at Manly Oval on Tuesday afternoon, the Waratahs tasted defeat for the first time this season.
The visitors batted first and finished with 4-161 from 20 overs. Chris MacDougal was the star, finding the boundary with ease on his way to 80 not out.
Manly’s run chase was stuttering to say the least.
Captain Tim Cruickshank came and went early, with fellow opener Cameron Merchant run out for 1.
Adam Crosthwaite steadied the ship but when he was dismissed for 37 Manly’s chances of progressing to the qualifying final at the SCG this Sunday evaporated.
Nick McLachlan provided some late entertainment with a couple of impressive boundaries but the game was already in St George’s hands.
Coach Shawn Bradstreet conceded the collective effort was not good enough.
“It is definitely an opportunity lost. I didn’t need to tell the boys that in the sheds,’’ he said yesterday. “I felt their total was gettable but our top order didn’t fire, simple as that.
“We just have to move on. It isn’t panic stations, it was three hours of cricket which didn’t go our way.
“Our focus is already on collecting first-innings points against Gordon this weekend at Chatswood Oval.
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