A MESMERISING spell of spin bowling from ageless CYMS tweaker Al Dhatt has ensured the green and golds remain the favourites for this year's Royal Hotel Cup competition.
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Taking on Molong in the opening round of the Twenty20 premiership's Super Six stage, Dhatt claimed 5-5 from four overs to effectively put to bed any hope the navy blues had of chasing CYMS' total of 5-117.
Molong fought back somewhat, but Dhatt's spell proved too damaging as CYMS claimed a 44-run triumph.
Does anyone really care about t20 given @OrangeDCA glamour pusses Barry Davis and Danny Sandford aren't playing anymore? #unlikely #barnford
— Centrals Cricket (@CentralsCC) January 16, 2014
CYMS skipper Hugh Le Lievre praised the work of his chief spinner, along with that of in-form all-rounder Hamish Finlayson.
"I thought we batted really well, built solid partnerships. Once again Hamish Finlayson was the back bone of the innings," Le Lievre said, Finlayson ending the match 31 not out.
"I thought Dave Neil too was strong with the bat and Neddie Wright batted pretty positively for his 20 as well.
"Obviously Al Dhatt picked up 5-5, they're pretty handy figures.
"The change of pace with the new ball on a tacky surface, he bowled with good spin and precision."
Played before CYMS put the clamps on Molong in what was a rescheduled wash-out Super Sixes round, Cavaliers went agonising close to knocking off the defending premiers Orange City.
Cavs hit the skids in their pursuit of City's 8-103, slumping to 6-28 at the end of eight overs.
But Matt Corben (39 not out), Luke Wilson (14) and Josh Doherty (14) got their side in the game to the point where they needed 14 off the last over to win.
Cavaliers ended up hitting 12, with Corben hammering a six off the final ball of Ben Findlay's (2-25) last over to see his side finish 9-102, one run short of tying the game and forcing the tournament's first super over.
Andrew Rutledge continues to impress with the ball, nabbing 2-9 to be the pick of the bowlers.
It seems Bruce Cousins has painted no.27 on the heavy roller!!! #rotund #BBL03 #ODCA @SportsOutWest @cyms_c @OrangeDCA @CWD_Orange
— Orange City CC (@OrangeCity_CC) January 16, 2014
"Our bowling has continually been our strength in T20," City skipper Matt Findlay said.
"We got bogged down with the bat and didn't field all that well, but our attack got us out of trouble. Credit to Cavs, and Matty Corben especially, they put up a real fight."
Cavs captain Richie Venner said his side probably didn't deserve to get as close as it did.
"I think the result was a lot closer than the game was," Venner said.
"We got close in the last two overs, but there was probably five or six overs there where we went a little slow and didn't get enough ones."