Denmark hopeful of regaining Green for must-win clash

Denmark’s hopes of returning to finals action in the Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition could hinge on the availability of batsman Cary Green for their must-win clash with Collingwood Park on Saturday.

The Magpies were yesterday seeking clarification on the suspension of their experienced opening batsman, who was banned for two matches for umpire dissent.

Green sat out the Magpies’ loss to Manypeaks on February 24 and the A-grade side had the bye last weekend, but their second team played in C-grade.

Magpies captain Dan Robson said yesterday the club was hopeful the ACA would determine his suspension to be already served.

“We’ve looked at the ACA and WACA rules and there is no stipulations as per fixtures and what grade suspensions need to be served,” Robson said.

“We believed he has missed two games of cricket or two fixtures, so we are basically seeing where the association stands with it all.

“Cary is a valuable player and we’d like to have him playing.

“I’d say we are hopeful rather than confident but we are not going to play him if he’s ineligible.”

Green has formed a solid opening combination with Englishman Jujhar Johal in his five matches.

The Magpies will be close to full strength for the clash with Park at Turf West, with the winner likely to finish fourth depending on North County’s fortunes against ladder leaders Railways.

“It’s great for the competition, that it’s ended up this way with six of the seven teams still a chance to play finals,” Robson said. “We’ve got to bring our A game to ensure that we get over the line and as we’ve seen all year if you can dismiss the opposition’s key players early, anyone can beat anyone.”

The Magpies have not played finals since 2015-16 when they reached the preliminary final.

Park reached the finals in the same season but were bundled out in dramatic fashion by the Magpies at the elimination semifinal stage.

A win to Park would end all finals scenarios, with six points assuring them of fourth place on the standings.

The Bulldogs will need to defeat the Tigers and the Magpies to knock off Park, if they are to progress to the finals.

The Tigers and Bulldogs do battle at Turf East, while the second-placed Peaks face Mt Barker at Turf North in round 18 of the one-day competition.

Green’s suspension began a busy fortnight for the ACA judiciary, with Royals all-rounder Ian Attwell suspended for three matches for a level-two offence of using obscene or offensive language.

On February 24, Lions captain Jack Hastie was also fined $50 for a level-one offence of the same nature.

ACA A-GRADE FIXTURES ROUND 18

Railways v North County at Turf East

Manypeaks v Mt Barker at Turf North

Denmark v Collingwood Park at Turf West