The revolving door that is the Orange District Cricket Association second grade lead continues following Saturday’s 10th round, with Orange City leapfrogging Centrals to regain top spot.
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In the last four rounds Orange City, Centrals and Cavaliers have all held the competition lead and now, with five games remaining in the regular season, there’s just seven points between first and fourth.
The Warriors top the ladder on 42 points with Centrals trailing by four, Cavaliers are just on points further back and CYMS another two back from there.
The gap steepens from there, with Waratahs trailing CYMS by 13 and Kinross another four behind at the bottom.
The Warriors actually beat Centrals on Saturday afternoon at Anzac Park to move back to the top, while Cavaliers trumped Waratahs and CYMS took care of Kinross.
It was the Warriors’ second win over Centrals from as many starts this summer, and came on the back of Jeremy Bartier’s three-wicket effort and a half-ton from skipper Jamie Stedman.
Bartier took 3-13 as Centrals managed just 8-137, Brenton Anthony’s 33 the top score, before Stedman whacked 50 in City’s successful chase. Blake Weymouth also made 43 as the Warriors won by four wickets.
Cavaliers skipper Stu Middleton led his side to its tight, two-wicket win over the sky blues. He took 2-18 while Abhi Kaithamangalathu (49) was pushing his side to 123, before top-scoring in the maroons’ chase with 39.
Adam Smith fired in CYMS’ win over the students, producing an excellent showing with both bat and ball as well.
He pummeled 76 at the top of the green and golds’ dig, and was aided capably by Jarrod Urza (49), Ed Wright (24) and Nick Fisher (22 not out) as CYMS posted 6-213 from their 40 overs.
It was Smith’s second half-ton of the season, and continued the trend of the hard-hitting opener either scoring plenty of making none.
Both times he’s made it to double figures this year he’s gone on to pass 50, with Saturday’s effort complementing his 60 against Cavaliers in round four.
His other four innings have netted 16 runs combined.
Although Smith rarely, if ever bowled during his stint in CYMS’ top grade side – he more often than not took the gloves – he’s been somewhat of a revelation for the green and golds with the ball this summer.
He picked up another three wickets on Saturday, for just 23, to help restrict the students to 9-167 in reply.
The trio of scalps also took his season tally to nine, they’ve come at a fairly miserly 14.3 apiece.
Smith and his side now face a crucial round 11 clash this weekend with second-placed Centrals. If the green and golds win, it will cause a serious shake-up on the standings.
Meanwhile, Orange City will face Waratahs and Cavaliers play Kinross.
The 2017-18 Third Grade Twenty20 Tournament was also played on Saturday, look for the wrap-up later in the week, while Centenary Cup remains on its usual mid-season break until school resumes.
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.
