With a dominant 135-run win over the in-form Centrals at Wade Park last weekend, Orange City pushed further ahead on top of the Orange District Cricket Association standings.
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The Warriors are now 19 points clear of second-placed CYMS thanks to the massive victory, one which came from what City skipper Craig Rogan labelled “a very impressive performance”.
Although none of Orange City’s bats passed 50 the Warriors still managed to post 224, before rolling through Centrals in just 25 overs, skittling the red and blacks for 89.
“To be able to beat an in-form team like Centrals, who had plenty of momentum and belief going in, like that really asserts our authority I think,” Rogan said.
“None of the guys made 50 but we still pushed to 220-odd and that came from really batting in partnerships. I think we might have left 20 or 30 runs out there, but it was still really pleasing.
“Then backing it up with an excellent bowling effort, it was a very impressive performance.”
There’ll be no relaxing in the Warriors’ camp though, not so close to the business end of the season.
“Definitely not. It’s not a time to relax at all, we need to be concentrating harder on improving those parts of our game that we still can,” Rogan said.
Rogan (0) was dismissed early after he won the toss and batted, but Tim Low (32) and Dave Boundy (25) consolidated, adding 54 for the second wicket before the latter put on another 24 with Taylor Beatty (49) for the third.
Beatty and Shaun Grenfell (35) lifted the tempo through the middle again with a 63-run fourth wicket stand, before the Warriors lost a couple of quick wickets to sit at 6-170 with 10 overs to go.
The Warriors’ lower order fired though, Matt Findlay (33) and Ed Morrish (21) adding 42 for the seventh wicket at better than a run-a-ball, although the side did lose their last four wickets for 13.
That 224 proved more than enough as an early onslaught from Tom Waters (4-35) effectively ended Centrals’ hopes of chasing successfully.
After Morrish (1-17) sent Nick Dunlop (0) packing, Waters picked up Kurt Gander (5) and Dean Turner (2) to leave Centrals reeling at 3-12, and then dismissed Charlie Mortimer (24) to make that 4-43 after a short counter-attack too.
Only Wes Roweth (17) made it to double figures after that, as Centrals lost 6-45.
“Everyone bowled well, but Tommy was just excellent,” Rogan said.
“Being able to take those danger men early and have them three and then four for basically nothing, that’s what really set it up for us.”
