Eastlake opener Matthew Gawthorp will be eager to carry his superb ACT Comets form into the John Gallop Cup, starting with Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with West's/UC.
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The stylish right-hander provided the backbone of the Comets' second innings, carving out a well-made 73 in their 21-run Futures League victory against South Australia.
Comets coach Mark Higgs lauded Gawthorp's ability to survive on a Freebody Oval pitch with plenty in it for the bowlers.
''It was probably the best I've seen Matty play,'' Higgs said.
''He summed up the conditions really well and played through the zones that he thought he could play through.
''I have seen Matty play a fair bit of cricket and that was definitely the best innings I have seen him play under circumstances which didn't suit batting,'' the Comets coach said.
Along with Gawthorp, Eastlake will also welcome back middle-order batsman Michael Spaseski for the Kingston Oval encounter.
Eastlake is a perfect four-from-four in the first-grade limited-overs competition, but faces its sternest test against second-placed West's/UC.
But it is a challenge Eastlake captain Adam Tett is looking to tackle head on.
''It's important for us to assess where we're at in the one-day comp,'' Tett said.
''Wests have done very well and so have we, so it's good to see where we're going.''
■ SATURDAY
JOHN GALLOP CUP (One-day competition): round five on Saturday: Eastlake v West's/UC at Kingston; Queanbeyan v ANU at Freebody No.1; Ginninderra v Weston Creek at Kippax 2; North Canberra Gungahlin v Tuggeranong at Keith Tournier Memorial. All games start at 11am.