LAUNCHED: CYMS opener Luke Clarke blasts a ball into the outfield during his side’s eight-wicket win over Blayney on Friday night. Photo: JUDE KEOGH
CYMS will be full of confidence heading into the Royal Hotel Cup grand final after a commanding semi-final win over Blayney on Friday.
Blayney were the favourites heading into the Twenty20 semi-final after going through their pool matches without a loss, but no one told CYMS as they secured an eight-wicket win.
Playing under lights at Wade Park, CYMS restricted Blayney to 7-106 off their 20 overs, including just 17 runs off the first six overs.
Blayney captain Jameel Qureshi came in at number five and steadied the ship with an unbeaten 45 but the team’s total was never going to be enough.
The CYMS bowlers kept it tight with Chris Novak (2-8), Nick Wright (1-15) and Hamish Finlayson (1-14) taking wickets.
CYMS then showed off their batting skills and were scoring at almost nine an over at the halfway mark.
Openers Luke Clarke and Trent Colley looked like they might make the winning total themselves.
Colley fell at 32 off 34 balls, having delivered five fours.
The captain and Clarke put on 89 for the first wicket in 10 overs.
Clarke was eventually removed for 61 off 41 balls, including nine fours and a monstrous six.
Nick Wright (6 not out) and Michael Campbell (2no) pushed CYMS to 2-107 in the 14th over and the win.
David Rogerson (2-18) bowled well for Blayney but CYMS were too good.
“The bowlers were the ones who set it up for us,” Colley said.
“Clarke hit it well. To be 80 or 90 off the first nine overs was great.”
Blayney captain Qureshi admitted his side was outplayed.
“They batted well. We probably didn’t score enough runs. We didn’t start well. There were too many dot balls in the first six overs,” he explained.
“They bowled well and fielded well. They basically beat us in every aspect of the game.”
CYMS will take on the winner of this Friday’s semi-final between Orange City and Molong on February 22.
Qureshi said if CYMS play like they did in the semi-final, they’ll be tough to beat.
The Blayney captain said his side was keen to return to the day-night competition next season.