Orange City's quest to stay in touch with Orange District Cricket Association competition leaders Cavaliers has received a massive boost, with former Mitchell Cricket Council and Western Zone ace Nathan Rosser named to return to the Warriors' top grade in their round 13 clash against Kinross.
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Rosser, also a former NSW Premier Cricket top grader with Randwick-Petersham, recently returned to Orange and fronted for the greens in second grade last weekend, promptly banging out an unbeaten 68 as his side downed the students.
The hard-hitting top order bat is one of the best-performed in the club's 51-season history, sitting inside the top grade's top 10 run-scorers and also holds a similar standing on the ODCA's tally, since MyCricket was introduced anyway.
The second-placed greens are 12 points adrift of the competition lead but the maroons have the bye, so the Ed Morrish-led City side can make up plenty of ground with a victory over the students.
"That's the goal, cutting into that margin a little bit," Morrish said.
"Obviously having Noodle (Rosser) back in the side will make a big difference because everyone knows how good a player he is, he's beginning to be a bit like John Farnham with the amount of times he's made comebacks.
"From all accounts he batted very well last week, he'll strengthen up our top order quite a bit and he has a great cricket brain too so I'll probably look to bounce ideas off him in the field too."
Morrish also confirmed his side will welcome firebrand Western quick Jackson Coote back from injury in the second week of the clash, he returns after being sidelined with a back injury.
Although Kinross are cemented to the bottom of the table with just win, Morrish said his troops would be doing themselves a disservice to take the two blues lightly.
"I just don't think their results are a reflection of their ability, there's a lot of talent there. They'll be desperate for a win and I see no reason why they can't knock off any of the top sides on their day, so of course it's a danger game," he said.
Fresh from their own big win over the students, third-placed CYMS will look to continue Centrals' woes in round 13.
The green and golds weren't quite able to score an outright win over the students while Centrals, sitting fourth, were routed by an innings and 203 runs by Cavaliers last start and will be desperate to bounce back with a victory.
The two games are at Wade Park and Jack Brabham 2 respectively, with Saturday's opening day beginning at 1pm.
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