Horsham Saint Jono Carroll is having the season of his life.
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Playing in Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade competition, Carroll is the equal leading wicket taker for the season with 16 scalps to his name.
His great form could not have come at a better time for the Horsham Saints.
They lost strike bowlers Tony Caccaviello and Matthew Combe before the season, giving Carroll a bigger role.
“I started the season off a bit slow, then started picking up a few wickets,” Carroll said. “That came with the captain giving me the opportunity to bowl and trusting me a bit more.
“I’ve been playing A Grade for the last four years (and) just trying to do the right thing. This has definitely been my biggest role for the team.
“Last year I usually bowled first or second change so stepping up this season was a big role change … a bit more weight on my shoulders.”
The highlight of Carroll’s season was his five-wicket haul against Rup-Minyip in round six. It was his best bowling figures in senior cricket, but Carroll admitted he might have been a bit fortunate.
“It was a good day – I was pretty lucky to get them, but that’s how it goes,” he said. “One of them was a rank full toss to get Travis Hair out clean bowled. It’s not often you get a wicket with a rank full toss.”
The Horsham Saints are in a good position this season at second on the ladder.
But it is an even A Grade season, and they were soundly defeated by third-placed Rup-Minyip in the first weekend of Twenty20 action last Saturday.
Carroll said he enjoyed the Twenty20 format, but it made bowling tougher.
“It’s a bit different – at City Oval you have to bowl back of a length so you don’t get belted over the grandstand every ball,” he said.
The Saints have another tough task this weekend against first placed Homers in the second week of Twenty20 contests.
“We’ll certainly be hoping to bounce back this week,” Carroll said. “The key wickets for us is Jarred Combe and both of the Hoppers, they always make runs against us.”
In other contests, Rup-Minyip take on the West Wimmera Warriors and Jung Tigers face Laharum in a battle for fourth place on the ladder. Every A Grade match this weekend is again at City Oval on Saturday.
In B Grade, Bullants play Blackheath-Dimboola, Saints play Jung Tigers, West Wimmera verses Lubeck-Murtoa and Quantong faces Colts.
C Grade also returns with Jung facing Blackheath-Dimboola, Laharum playing Rup-Minyip and Colts playing Horsham Saints.