It took nine rounds and almost five months but Orange City’s Centenary Cup outfit finally tasted victory on Saturday afternoon, accounting for CYMS to secure its maiden win of the 2017-18 season.
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Led by Ross Beasley’s unbeaten half century and an early blitz with the ball from Harry McGregor and Alex Walker, the Warriors posted 7-134 before skittling the green and golds for just 68 in reply.
The Warriors’ win has no impact on the standings because Kinross and CYMS are still 26 points clear and are guaranteed spots in the grand final on March 24, it does the side a world of good in terms of confidence.
Beasley finished 50 not out and was aided capably by Harry Grant (18), Michael Badman (12) and Digby Cooper (10) as the greens worked their way to 134.
Charlie Kemp (2-12) and Ethan Burke (2-14) were both excellent with the ball, while Jack Daintith (1-28), Jacob Khalil (1-24) and Riley Wotton (1-5) all took wickets as well.
Khalil’s scalp – he trapped Grant in front – was also his first for the club.
Although 134 is more than competitive, it’s also a total the powerful CYMS unit is more than capable of running down, and easily.
The green and golds didn’t though, as Orange City’s new-ball pair of McGregor (3-14) and Walker (2-4) decimated their top order, leaving CYMS reeling at 5-17.
That became 6-27 when Caleb Toms ran out Charlie Kilby (3) and then 7-31 when Grant (1-11) clean bowled Stephen Wotton (0).
Simon Kemp (22) and Daintith (15) added 37 in a fighting lower-order stand before Ben Cullis (1-14) trapped the former in front with the score at 68.
It didn’t change as Nick Cooper (2-6) dismissed Daintith and Meg Buckley (0) in a wicket-maiden to secure his side’s win.
The story wasn’t much happier for CYMS in second grade, as Cavaliers cruised to first innings points at Riawena Oval.
Stu Middleton (3-10), Fergus O’Shea (3-11) and Joel Thomas (3-14) were all superb with the ball as the maroons rolled through CYMS, bowling the green and golds out for 107.
Todd Murphy (60) and Aidan Moriarty (11) were the only two CYMS batsmen to pass double figures.
Middleton (42) shone with the bat too, as did Luke Wilson (41) as Cavaliers finished the day 6-153. With a lead of 46 and at least 70 overs to play on day two, there’s little doubt the maroons will be looking for maximum points to, potentially, increase their buffer on top of the standings.
Although, they may need all those points just to stay on top, considering second-placed Orange City is also in a position to win outright.
In fact, the Warriors almost did that in a day.
Marty Day took 5-2 – one of those runs was a no-ball too- and Hayden Streatfield picked up 2-3 to skittle Kinross for just 36.
Orange City declared with a lead of 57 and then the students slumped to 6-80 at stumps, to lead by just 23.
In the other second grade game on Saturday Waratahs batted out the day, plodding along at about two-and-a-half an over to finish 6-188 at stumps, against Centrals.
They’ll bat on next week, the ODCA has adopted a no compulsory closure stance this summer. Even though a first innings win against a team higher than them would be a good result, the side is 19 points behind third and needs every point it can get.
With just 70 overs left, minimum, an outright result is very unlikely.
In third grade Cavaliers (244) lead CYMS (1-32) by 212 runs heading into the second day and Waratahs (102) beat CYMS (90) in the third and fourth grade cross-over.
No other results were available at time of publication.
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.
