Pirates strength in batting depth

The Pirates - flying high in third place in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association - are looming as a genuine finals contender.

Jennings said the club's wealth of batters was one of its biggest strengths.

He said those currently plying their trade at the end of the innings were capable of filling top-order roles.

"Our whole side is pretty much new this season so we're still learning about what everyone does and can do," Jennings said.

"All the guys from six to seven down to 10 and 11 can really bat anywhere in the 11.

"The guy (Mark Pitt) we had at number 10 against Russells Creek on Saturday was opening at the start of the year. It's just hard to put (the order) together."

Jennings, who has 214 runs and 18 wickets in his first season at Avery's Paddock, said he was delighted with the Pirates' output.

Port Fairy has two-day fixtures against Brierly-Christ Church, Woodford, Dennington and Merrivale on the horizon.

It will face Nestles on Saturday to round out its Twenty20 home-and-away campaign.

"We're stoked and happy to be where we are," he told The Standard.

"But we know we've got a tough run home too. We're focusing on the games we've got coming up.

"We've got to try to hold our spot and make finals."

Jennings said his side was relishing the shift to two-day cricket. He was confident the Pirates' game plan would stand up in 160-over matches.

"We're playing to our game plan at the moment and it's working," he said.

"If it doesn't work (going forward) we'll adjust it. It'll be interesting being our first two-dayer for a while.

"I think with our batting order, we'll bat deep. We'll do all we can to put together a good total.

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"Being the first two-dayer for a while after a lot of white-ball cricket it's a big chance.

"It'll be our first two-dayer together as a group and it'll be interesting to see how it goes."

Woodford skipper Nick Butters said his side was equally excited to jump into two-day cricket but would first look to Thursday night's Twenty20 clash against Merrivale under lights.

"(Two-day is) a completely different format and we've obviously got the Twenty20 game which I think we need to make those finals," he said.

"We're looking forward to the two-dayers. It certainly suits different guys more than others.

"It'll be another good challenge. We're looking forward to it and seeing what we can do."

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