PORT Pirates May Kelly Cup campaign received a lifeline on Wednesday night when they registered a 31-run victory over Macquarie Hotel.
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They will now have to beat Bonny Hills next Wednesday night at Wayne Richards Park to give themselves a chance of playing in the Australia Day final.
After losing the toss and being sent in, Pirates managed 9-99 after Bryden Kouwenberg had to retire hurt due to a dislocated kneecap.
It looked to be an easy run chase for the Macca, but regular wickets hampered them before they were eventually bowled out for 68.
Pirates captain Jeremy Cowin admitted he thought they were 20 runs short.
“I’d by lying if I thought we had enough runs, because a score of 120 means a run a ball and that puts a bit of pressure on blokes,” he said.
“But you always have to back your team and on that pitch and under lights I thought it might be tricky to bat on.”
Michael Foster took 3-17 off four overs while Mark Jackson contributed a vital 20 runs and Matt Rankin 16.
“It’s good to have Jacko back because he hasn’t played for us since about October and he was solid for us at the start of the season,” Cowin said.
“The win gives us confidence for the rest of the season that we know we can compete with these sorts of sides .
Macquarie captain Josh Hyde lamented his side’s lack of composure with the bat.
“Three run outs is just irresponsible batting,” he said.
“We knew chasing is difficult under lights and 100 is probably above average, because we’ve won games defending 80 and that sort of thing.”
Hyde admitted the light made batting difficult, but refused to blame it solely on the loss.
“I made a comment when I was out there that I couldn’t see the blokes out on the boundary, but I suppose they’re all excuses we come up with and we just had our backsides handed to us.
“It’s a little bit of a wake-up call we needed; hopefully we can beat Wauchope on Saturday and then almost lock up first place.”