QUEANBEYAN captain Aaron Ayre will need no extra motivation to perform when he strides to the crease for the Bluebags in their semi-final clash against Wests UC at Chisholm starting today.
With Ayre likely to pursue opportunities interstate next season, the 20-year-old will be keen to go out with a trophy as Bluebags attempt to secure a fourth-consecutive two-day crown.
“This could well be my last year at Queanbeyan so it’d obviously be ideal to go out with a win and another good memory of my time here,” Ayre said.
“In saying that though, I’ve loved my time with Queanbeyan and whatever the result over the next couple of weeks, I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
With Wests boasting arguably the best bowling attack in the competition led by pace spearhead Ben Oakley, Ayre will need to play his role of top-order lynchpin to perfection over the next three days.
“Part of our success against Wests in recent times has been our ability to deal with ‘Oaks’,” Ayre said.
“Typically when we play them, the damage ends up getting done at the other end so hopefully we can see him off and then not lose our concentration against the other blokes they throw at us.”
Ayre did his chances of producing a match-winning performance this weekend no harm after batting himself well and truly back into form at Manuka Oval yesterday.
Batting at number five for the Territories XI in their clash against South Australia, Ayre belted the ball to all parts of Manuka Oval on his way to scoring 105 off just 99 balls.
The knock served as a timely end to the wicketkeeper-batsman’s recent run of low-scoring efforts.