RUNS ON THE BOARD: Adam Cowden made 29. Photo: Steve Gosch
ORANGE City skipper Matt Findlay believes Friday night’s Royal Hotel Cup Twenty20 victory over CYMS has the potential to thrust his side towards further glory in 2012-13, adding the 17-run title win has been building for nigh on a decade.
Brilliantly defending a fairly “mediocre” total of 104 in front of a healthy Wade Park crowd, the Warriors’ day-night win was the club’s first title triumph since the 2003-04 defeat of Cavaliers in the old 40-over Bonnor Cup format.
Findlay, a relative veteran of the side at just 22, said the win was a weight off City’s shoulders.
“To be quite frank, Friday night was a bit of a relief for a few of us,” Findlay said.
“For a few of us older guys in the side, it was my fourth Bonnor Cup final, the monkey is off our back now. We’ve been there or there abouts in both forms of cricket for a few years now. We only needed the one win [for things to turn around]. We’ve got that now.”
Batting first, Orange City made it to 1-51 after 10 overs thanks to 29 from Adam Cowden.
But the ball kept CYMS in the game with Hugh Le Lievre (2-16) and Luke Clarke (3-13) tightening the screws on a City total that threatened to crash well over the 100-mark.
“I think 104 is pretty mediocre in this competition,” Findlay added.
“You’re always pretty positive in a final, but there would of been a few blokes in the shed thinking that was nowhere near enough.”
However, after Ed Morrish’s first over the fear soon turned to jubilation.
The player of the 2012-13 Royal Hotel Cup, Morrish (3-22) tore through his old teammates claiming the wickets of Clarke (2) and then Nick Wright (0) with the second and third balls of the innings’s first over respectively.
CYMS skipper Trent Colley (0) fell in the next over to James Conn (2-16) and after eight balls the green and golds were 3-2.
When Michael Campbell (6) fell soon after, CYMS were 4-12 and City was home.
CYMS batsman Dave Neil lamented a horrible top order batting display from his side, with the green and golds’ usually reliable batsmen faltering under the pressure of the big stage.
“We were confident before we batted, but you don’t win many when you’re 3-2 and 4-12,” Neil said with CYMS all out for 87.
“I’m proud that we fought to the end, we got a lot closer than we were entitled to.
“The better side won, I look forward to playing them later in the year.”
