Centennials Bulls locked in a blockbuster semi-final showdown with reigning Royal Hotel Cup champions Lithgow on Wednesday, by easily accounting for cellar-dwellers Kinross last Friday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bulls were backing up from eliminating traditional Twenty20 powerhouse Orange City two days beforehand, but didn’t show any signs of fatigue as they waltzed to a 28-run win over the students.
It was a win inspired by Josh Toole with the bat, before the side produced a clinical, all-round effort in the field.
Toole pummeled 57 at the top of the Bulls’ dig and, together with Dallas Tilley’s 32 not out at the end, led the Bathurst-based side to 7-141 from its 20 overs.
It also pushes Toole up to second on the run-scoring list with 129 at a average of 43, he trails Lithgow’s Ben Sheehan (159 at 53) by 30.
Aaron Seymour also chipped in with a valuable 18 through the middle, with Charlie Greer (2-30) and Angus Cumming (2-13) the best of the Kinross bowlers.
Greer also made 45 with the bat but, while Sam Ridley (19) and Cumming (13) chipped in, the students were strangled out of the game and finished with 6-113.
Seymour (2-14) snared multiple scalps, while Ryan Gurney (1-18) picked up one too.
The Bulls’ semi-final against Lithgow looms as the game of the tournament, so far, after the sides’ first encounter was rain-affected.
Lithgow ended up winning after Sheehan smashed 53 not out to get his side over the line chasing a revised target.
In the other semi-final the undefeated CYMS take on Bathurst City, on Friday.
The green and golds head in as unbackable favourites, after bowling Redbacks out for just 68 earlier in the tournament and chasing it down in nine overs.