GIORGIO Rigali is putting his fine form with bat and ball down to Friday night garden cricket.

The Goatacre seamer, who smashed 60 not out and followed it with 3-45 as his side toppled Chard by 85 runs in the Premier Two Division on Saturday, has been firing on all cylinders in both disciplines of the game of late.

Rigali is part of a group of friends, which includes Purton skipper Elliot Hill, who play a downscaled version of the game at home on the days before a big match – and he feels he is transferring his form from his back yard to the crease.

“It’s probably all this garden cricket I’m playing at the moment on a Friday night,” said the Goatacre man.

“I’m having a great hit on a Friday, it’s like having a net in the back garden.

“When I’ve got bunnies like Elliot to bowl at it’s a massive confidence booster.”

The Goats now find themselves just 22 points off the promotion places with three games remaining.

“It’s going to be a hard run-in for us,” said Rigali.

“With the form that we’re on at the moment we’re going to back ourselves to win all three of our games, it just depends on what others do.

“Thornbury lost at the weekend so we’ve gained a bit of momentum on them and we need to carry on as we are.”

Goatacre batted first after winning the toss, with Jack Haines (85), Ed Wilkins (58) and Kevin Iles all also finding their range as Brad Dawson’s men posted 322-7.

Scott Wells-Burr and Emlyn Kuhn both made 57 for Chard but Rigali’s haul helped turn the screw as the visitors were skittled for 237 after 44 overs.

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