In a huge boost to Orange’s hopes of defending its title, Orange City hard-hitter Nathan Rosser will make just his second appearance in a Bluebaggers’ cap this summer in this weekend’s Mitchell Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup semi-final against Bathurst.
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He’ll do so on the back of some ominous form too.
Rosser smashed 52 not out in his last dig and prior to that belted 27 off very few balls in the Warriors’ most recent Royal Hotel Cup win, and he passed 25 in all four of his digs before that.
Although 25’s nothing more than a start and hardly impressive, with the sheer amount of natural ability Rosser possesses and his history of building to big scores, there’s every reason to suggest the former Randwick-Petersham all-rounder is on the verge of a massive innings.
“I’m definitely hitting it alright at the moment, I just haven’t really gone on with it,” Rosser said.
“Everything’s feeling pretty good so hopefully I can get a few away this weekend too, the only reason I haven’t played much rep stuff is because I’ve been unavailable, but I’m good to go on Sunday and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve really been enjoying my cricket, the boys at Orange City are a good bunch and it helps that we’re going along pretty well too. I’ve always enjoyed playing for Orange, so we’ll see if we can get the job done on Sunday.”
Rosser is one of a couple of forced changes for Sunday’s semi-final, after the Bluebaggers went through last weekend’s preliminary stage with one win and one loss.
I’m definitely hitting it alright at the moment, I just haven’t really gone on with it.
- Bluebaggers gun Nathan Rosser
Bathurst, on the other hand, easily won both of its games.
“Bathurst have always been pretty good, there’s Josh Toole and a few others down there that are pretty handy,” Rosser said.
“It’s Twenty20 stuff though, just got to make sure we do the basics well I reckon.”
Asked if there was any one player of thing he’d highlight as a potential game-changer Rosser – although he did it with a laugh – pointed to his blade, dubbed “Wonderbat”.
“Homer (Simpson) had his Wonderbat, now I’ve got mine,” Rosser laughed, before quoting the entire relevant scene from the TV show.
“It’s a pretty good bat. We’ve got some good players, they’ve got some good players, it’ll be a pretty good game I think.
“But, hopefully we can get the job done and then do it again in the final.”
Orange’s semi-final against Bathurst kicks off at 10am at the Sportsground, while Lithgow faces the Blue Mountains in the other at Morse Park 1.
The former ground hosts the final, from 2.30pm.
- ORANGE: Daryl Kennewell ©, Josh Doherty, Charlie Greer, Angus Cumming, Mitch Winslade, Nathan Rosser, Wes Roweth, Kurt Gander, Chris Brown, Jack Dodds, Ryan Kurtz, Jackson Coote (TBC)