Hope floats, sinks Orange

BATHURST revived its chances of success in the Mitchell under 21s competition by inflicting Orange’s first defeat yesterday.

Playing at home, Bathurst came away with a comfortable five-wicket win thanks largely to a five wicket haul from spinner Max Hope and a well-paced captain's knock of 66 from Josh Toole.

It was the first success of the season for Bathurst who were defeated by Lithgow and had their match against the Blue Mountains washed out.

Hope picked up 5-39 from his 10 overs of off-spin and continued some strong early work from opener Alex Miller (2-25 from 10) to ensure Orange never reached a powerful position.

Nonetheless, the visitors still took to the field for the second innings with a spring in their step after a lower-order revival gave them a chance at victory.

Opener Jason Beasley made a composed 46 before falling to Hope but around him the wickets tumbled as Orange slipped to 7-92 after 27 overs.

Jason Date (38), Sam Dwyer (24) and Liam Gough (18) all made contributions down the order and it eventually helped their side to 173, all-out in the 44th over.

“We just didn't do well enough early,” Orange coach Mark Frecklington said.

“Considering the way we started off though we did a pretty good job to get to where we did but it probably wasn't going to be enough especially without Jackson Coote in the team.

“We're still looking okay despite the loss, our only other game was against Mudgee and we had a fairly narrow win so we're looking for a big performance against the Blue Mountains in the next round.”

Orange needed early wickets if it was to have any chance of defending its total and Gough (1-32) gave them on, removing Imran Qureshi for one.

That was where the joy ended though, as Toole and up-and-coming opener Bill Hurley settled in.

The pair were patient and content to stroll to 1-24 after 11 overs, before Toole began to find his range.

He hit six boundaries in his 66 and was perhaps unlucky to fall to a high full-toss from Date (1-29) with the score on 1-88.

In the only nervouse period of the match for the home team, Hurley (21) and Ben Curran (four) fell soon after at 4-118.

Brendan Inwood had the experience to guide his side home though and put on 35 with Hope for the fifth wicket.

Hope was claimed by Mitch Evers (1-28) but Andrew Brown (13 not out) saw it through with Inwood (32 not out) as Bathurst kept their season alive.

“We had to get that one,” Bathurst coach Scott Inwood said.

“I was very impressed with the way Josh Toole and Bill Hurley approached the innings, we knew that having bowled them out in 44 overs we had an extra six overs up our sleeve so the plan was always to bat for time early and see off the new ball.

“Bill did a really good job, when he needed to push it along he did.

“What set it up though was Max's effort with the ball, he totally restricted their middle-order and he was well backed up by Alex Miller.

“Orange still had a fairly strong side, they missed Jackson Coote but we had a few out too so it was pleasing to not only win, but to win the way we did.”