East Ballarat batsman Jarrod Blandford says a positive approach was the key to a match-defining innings for him against North Ballarat in the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts grand final at the Eastern Oval at the weekend.
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Blandford stood head and shoulders above the rest over Saturday and Sunday, being the only player to get a half century in either first innings with 60 runs.
He spent more than three hours at the crease in a contribution which was pivotal to East Ballarat getting a nine-run lead.
Blandford said getting on the front foot had been a key to him getting among the runs.
He believed the decision to bat deep in the crease had brought a number of batsmen undone over the first two days.
He said he had made his mind up to be positive and it had paid off.
East Ballarat was 2-2 when he started his innings and not much later 3-2
Blandford said it had been all about getting the head down - first in a stand with Brad Whittaker and later with Josh Brown.
He said Brown's aggressive approach had been decisive and an ideal foil to his approach.
He believes the first hour next Saturday will be vital in determining which way the game goes, with East Ballarat looking to eat into the Roosters' batting order.
He said having dismssed the top two - Leigh Lorenzen and Janath Tissera - cheaply had East well placed.
Blandford said the Hawks definitely had the edge.
