THE hoodoo is broken.
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With a 63-run win over Cavaliers in the Orange District Cricket Association limited overs final on Saturday, CYMS ended its 30-year title drought.
After being sent in by Cavs skipper Richie Venner, the green and golds worked their way to 9-159 from 40 overs.
Tom Satterthwaite (48) and Grant Koch (32) got CYMS off to a great start, setting their team up for a big total with a 73-run opening partnership.
However after drinks CYMS lost regular wickets, with Eddie Wright (14) and Chris Novak (16 not out) the only other batsmen to pass double figures, finishing with a seemingly below par score on a flat Wade Park wicket.
It was enough though.
Sam Dwyer (4-19) and Al Dhatt (3-23) led the way for CYMS and Cavs were eventually bowled out for just 96.
After losing Stu Middleton (0) first ball of the innings, leg before to Novak, James Ryan (72 not out) and Matt Corben (2) looked to steady the ship.
Enter Dwyer.
The medium pacer came on first change for CYMS and tore through Cavaliers’ top order, removing Corben, Venner (1) and Matt Death (0) in quick succession before taking the last scalp of Tom Westcott (5) to secure the win.
CYMS stand-in skipper Hamish Finlayson said the feeling was surreal post-victory.
“I’m a bit speechless actually,” Finlayson said.
“It’s just a brilliant feeling. After last year’s debacle I’m pretty sure the executive were thinking we might not even have a first grade team at the start of the season. So to have all these new players come through and have all this happening, it’s just incredible.”
Finlayson praised his troops, but also made note of a valiant “never say die” batting effort from Ryan, who carried his bat through Cavs’ innings.
‘We’ve been playing good cricket all year,” Finlayson explained.
“More than anything we’re enjoying it, and now we’re getting the results. I have to give Jimmy credit though, he batted very, very well. If he’d had a bit more help who knows what might have happened.”
Finlayson said he hoped the win would be the kick start CYMS need after Christmas.
“Hopefully we can use that to build into the two day cricket,” he said.
“But 30 years is a long time between drinks, so we’ll enjoy this one first.”
Venner lamented a lack of application from his batsman but gave CYMS due credit.
“We were beaten by a better side on the day,” Venner said.
“We didn’t bat as well as we should have and everyone saw what happened.”