Eight runs may have been the eventual difference between CYMS and Bathurst City at Wade Park on Friday night but in reality, the former side won the pool B Royal Hotel Cup match far more comfortably and firmed as title favourites in the process.
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With Redbacks missing star all-rounder Ben Orme – don’t estimate how much firepower he adds to Bathurst City’s batting and bowling stocks either – CYMS compiled 7-135 on a wicket which was holding up slightly, a total skipper Hamish Finlayson said his side was “very confident of defending”.
Defend it his side did, restricting Bathurst City to 7-127. Although it sounds reasonably close, after losing several wickets in the later stages of the dig, Redbacks were too far behind the eight ball to threaten.
CYMS marquee Mick Delaney did the bulk of the damage with the bat, top scoring with 34 for his side after Matt Baker (18) and Amit Balgi (22) kicked off the innings in style, putting on 42 for the first wicket.
Delaney was aided capably by Ben Chiarella (21) and by the time he was out CYMS were cruising at 3-96 with several overs left.
Redbacks fought back, with Gavin Bridge (17) the only other batsman to pass double figures.
Redbacks lost Greg Adams (6) early on and while Joey Coughlan (37) and Michael Waldren (23) added 52 for the second wicket, they found it tough to get the CYMS bowlers away and as a result, the required run rate continually climbed.
Once those two, and skipper Matt Willis (6), were dismissed, the result was all but guaranteed for CYMS.
The win all but ensures CYMS a semi-final spot too, while Redbacks face Lithgow in their final pool B game. The victor of that should also make the final four.
“It was a good win, against a good side,” Finlayson said.
“I think we could tell Bathurst City maybe didn’t play their best cricket, but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
“It’s really nice to be basically guaranteed a semi-final spot as well, but we’ll still be trying to finish our pool stages with a win over Kinross next month.”
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
