THANKS to a superb effort with the ball Orange District Junior Cricket Association claimed the 2015-16 Mitchell Cricket Council under-16 title at Jack Brabham (1) on Sunday, toppling Bathurst.

After posting a defendable total of 6-154 from its 50 overs Orange produced an unyielding performance with the ball to restrict the powerful Bathurst line-up no end and ultimately dismiss them 30 runs short of their target.

The victory was Orange’s second consecutive win over Bathurst after triumphing in the final round the weekend before and marks the black and golds first Mitchell Cricket Council title since 2012-13.

After being sent in, it was slow going in the early stages for Orange as Bathurst’s bowlers kept it tight on the low-ish Jack Brabham wicket.

Cohen Schubert (21) and Rory Daburger (20) put on 37 for the first wicket to give Orange a strong foundation and the latter added another 18 with Harry Pearce for the second wicket before being caught.

Pearce (34) top scored for Orange and combined with Donald Hearn (32) through the middle overs to keep scoreboard ticking over, before skipper Gus Cumming (10) and Luca Wynn (17) hit out at the end of the innings to push side up to 6-154.

Although a modest total, losing regular wickets cost the visitors as they found themselves behind the eight ball from quite early on in the innings and never got back into the contest thanks to Orange’s bowlers.

Schubert (2-11), Lance Hearn (2-23) and Angus Howarth (2-8) all took multiple scalps as Orange kept Bathurst to 125, while Ryan Noon (1-11), Cumming (1-17) and Aidan Moriarty (1-0) all picked up one wicket each. Harry Pearce produced a brilliant piece of fielding to secure a run out as well.