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Vowing to go hard in the powerplay at Wade Park on Friday night, Mick Delaney and Sam Dwyer launched CYMS to a monstrous win over Centennials at Wade Park on Friday night, which cemented their side's spot in the Royal Hotel Cup finals.
Raising the competition's skyrocketing bar even higher, Delaney and Dwyer swashbuckled their way to an incredible, 12-over, 139-run opening stand to inspire the green and golds - or canary yellow and limes, rather - to a monstrous total of 3-220.
Centennials were admirable in reply as they finished with 5-163 but it was well short of the necessary, Delaney and Dwyer had taken the game away from the visiting Bathurst side before they started their chase.
We just said 'we need to go hard early and we'll see if it comes off', fortunately it did.
- CYMS' Sam Dwyer
Dwyer belted 71 from just 32 balls before being the first man dismissed for CYMS and Delaney finished with a hard-hitting 111 from just 61, the duo combined to wallop 16 boundaries and nine maximums along the way.
"The wicket there at Wade Park was doing nothing so we just said 'we need to go hard early and we'll see if it comes off', fortunately it did," Dwyer said.
"We were both pretty simple with it, although I did keep telling myself to play straight, you give yourself the best chance if you're doing that.
"Pup (Delaney) was good to watch, I get past 50 and my mental capacity goes out the window but he's got this ability to grind it out and keep batting, and go big.
"The Centennials boys did pretty well in the chase, if they're batting first and post 170-odd they'd be feeling pretty confident, but I guess with the wicket the way it is you need more and more runs this summer."
Delaney and Dwyer's effort is made all the more impressive considering neither is playing regularly this summer, between them they've played just five games this summer.
While Delaney is on board as CYMS' marquee in their 75th anniversary season, Dwyer admitted he's all-but a Twenty20 specialist now too.
"We both missed the first game and I don't think Pup has played any other games this summer, he's moved more into coaching now, but I'd imagine the 75th season has a lot to do with him playing as a marquee," Dwyer said.
"I've told the guys I'll give them all the Twenty20 games and play where, or if, it's convenient on a Saturday. With young twins at home I can't do much more than that, but (skipper) Hughy (Le Lievre) is fine.
"It is good to get back around all the boys and play a bit of cricket though, I'm enjoying it, it breaks life up a bit so here's hoping we can give it a real shake now we've got ourselves a finals spot."
CYMS' final preliminary game of the tournament is against Orange City on January 24, a side Dwyer nominated as a 'genuine contender', especially considering their effort the week prior in running down 164 with eight wickets and four overs to spare.
He also pointed to how valuable the Warriors' marquee player Mick Curtale could be, in turn with Delaney and Bathurst City's Ben Patterson. Delaney's ton followed Curtale's unbeaten 63 while Patterson belted 95 not out the week prior, in Redbacks' win over Cavaliers.
"It does seem like the marquee players are really living up to their reputation's this summer, it's good, it must be pretty entertaining to watch," Dwyer said.
"Orange City have won their two games so far and from what I'm told look the goods, so that might be a preview of the finals to come when we play them."
Tom Belmonte also provided a handy 34 not out from 19 balls after Dwyer was dismissed, while Tyler Horton was the lone Bulls bowler who finished with respectable figures, he took 2-24 from his four overs.
Blake Aubin (67) was Centennials' best in the chase and Horton also made a valuable 42 in a strong, all-round performance, but the Bathurst side was virtually on a hiding to nothing.
The Royal Hotel Cup continues on Friday night when Cavaliers and reigning champions St Pat's Old Boys square-up, with both sides all-but playing to keep their finals hopes alive.
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