ORANGE City and Gladstone will face off in the final of the Orange District Cricket Association’s second grade Twenty20 competition, in three weeks, after both sides scored massive semi-final wins on Sunday.

Orange City thumped Kinross on Sunday morning before the Gladstone routed CYMS that afternoon, both at Jack Brabham (4).

Orange City skipper Jamie Stedman and quick Darcy O’Shea starred with bat and ball respectively to lead the Warriors to victory over the students, while Kyran Bubb dominated CYMS’ bowling attack to get his Gladstone side home.

After winning the toss and batting first, Stedman carried his bat through Orange City’s innings of 8-142, blasting 90 not out. 

O’Shea then produced a stirring new-ball spell, taking 4-21 from his four overs - including two scalps in his first - to leave Kinross reeling in the early stages of their innings.

Ultimately, the students were dismissed for 66, in the 13th over.

“We got thumped on Saturday, so I asked the boys to lift. They responded really well,” Stedman said.

“We lost wickets regularly, but that happens in T20, and we still compiled a good total. Darcy got those two wickets straight away and we were away.

“We fielded really well, took a couple of great catches and that showed where our intensity needs to be in the field all the time.”

Gladstone skipper Ben McAlpine sent CYMS into bat on Sunday afternoon and the decision paid dividends as the green and golds could only manage 7-113 from their 20 overs, with former CYMS gun Sam Dwyer snaring 3-17 for Gladstone.

In reply, Bubb smashed 53 and Dwyer made 24 as Gladstone made light work of the total, passing their target in just 12 overs.

However, Orange City will have one distinct advantage in the final on Sunday, February 28 - McAlpine, Bubb and Mick Sullivan are all expected to be absent, due to Orange CYMS playing in the West Wyalong rugby league knockout the same weekend.

“But we got smacked by them previously when they were away too,” Stedman said.

“They still deserve favouritism, but if we can show the same intent with the ball and in the field we did on Sunday we’ll give it a shake.”