Although their chances of progressing to the semi-finals remain slim, reigning Royal Hotel Cup champions Centennials Bulls ensured their title defence is still alive with Friday night’s crucial win over Bathurst City at Wade Park.
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After suffering back-to-back defeats in their opening games of the 2018-19 tournament another loss would’ve spelled the end for the Bulls, but they produced in a do-or-die situation to trump their Bathurst-based rivals by seven wickets.
The chasing victory keeps Centennials in the pool B mix, although with Cavaliers and CYMS both unbeaten and above them they’ll need other results to fall their way.
Meanwhile the defeat leaves Redbacks winless through two games, in the same position the Bulls were in prior to Friday’s all-Bathurst clash.
They’ll face CYMS on Wednesday night, with one other preliminary clash expected to be determined soon – with five sides in pool A and four in pool B, without it there would be an uneven amount of games.
Last summer’s joint Carl Sharpe Medal winners – awarded to the player or players-of-the-tournament – Ryan Gurney and Mick Curtale led the victory, with ball and bat respectively.
Gurney snared 4-17 from his four overs as Bathurst City managed just 104, Sam Macpherson (30) and Mark Tobin (23) the only two to pass 20.
The Curtale belted 55 opening the batting to get Bulls’ chase under way in style, with Gurney’s unbeaten 27 ensuring the victory with almost five overs to spare.
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