They may claimed first innings points last weekend, but CYMS skipper Chris Novak knows his troops have a huge task ahead of them on day two of their Orange District Cricket Association round six showdown with competition leaders Cavaliers.
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Both sides were rolled on a green Wade Park deck on Saturday afternoon, with CYMS securing a first innings victory by a solitary wicket, the green and golds edging past the maroons’ total of 123 as stumps loomed, with no batters left in the sheds.
Novak (1 not out) and Harry West (4) got their side home before day one was brought to a close when the latter was bowled by leg-spinner Ryan Kurtz, who took an incredible 6-30, with the score at 126.
That gives the green and golds a minuscule lead of three heading into the second day, in which there’s little doubt Cavaliers will push hard to flip the result and secure a reverse outright.
“It was good to get the win up,” Novak said, his side boasting a big advantage having locked up those first innings points.
“It was good to see young Harry West hit the winning runs in his second game of first grade too.
“It’s definitely an advantage to have those points on the board but there’s at least 80 overs next week, so anything can happen.
“We’ll just have to make sure we don't get in a position to lose outright and if we have the chance to win outright, we’ll definitely push for that.
If his side can hold onto that first innings win or even secure maximum points, the victory will be a valuable one considering they trail Cavaliers by just two points, and are equal with Orange City.
Novak’s decision to send Cavaliers in proved a masterstroke as the returning Mitch Winslade (3-25) sent Kaleb Cook (8), Kurtz (5) and Hudson Izzard (0) packing early to leave the maroons in trouble at 3-25.
Skipper Matt Corben (17) and Josh Doherty (12) fell in quick succession too, the latter was the first of four dismissals Hugh Le Lievre picked up as he rolled through Cavaliers’ lower order.
He finished with 4-28 from his nine overs, also dismissing Wes Lummis (0), Mark Maybin (5) and Ryan Noon (0), although Mitch Black’s unbeaten, rearguard 57 lifted Cavaliers above 100.
While 123 initially didn’t look spectacular it proved just a few short of what the maroons needed.
Only Aidan Moriarty (24) and Winslade (21) made it past 20 as Kurtz tore through, although the maroons fell agonisingly short of a stunning victory.
“Hughy always bowls well, he’s just a classy cricketer,” Novak said.
“On that kind of wicket, there was a little bit in there, you just need to bowl good lines and he did that, and hit the stumps.
“Mitchy picked up those few early ones too, which set us up well.”
Meanwhile at Riawena Oval, Jackson Coote and Brett Causer lifted Orange City into the box seat against the winless, cellar-dwelling Centrals.
They combined to snare nine of Centrals’ 10 wickets, taking 5-22 and 4-24 respectively as the Warriors steamrolled the red and blacks for 138.
Only Centrals skipper Daryl Kennewell (42), Ed Dodds (23) and Dean Turner (20) made any sort of inroads with the bat.
The Warriors will resume day two at 3-62 in reply, with Jeremy Bartier (24 not out) and Lachlan Coyte (18 not out) the unbeaten bats.
Play in both games resumes at 1pm on Saturday.
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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.
