Taking heed of skipper Mat Skinner's urges to draw on last summer's loss to Orange as motivation Dubbo served up a dose of revenge at Wade Park on Sunday, roaring to a 75-run win in the Western Zone Premier League's third round.
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Although the Macquarie Valley giants still won last summer's title Skinner admitted their rare loss to Orange at No.1 Oval remained somewhat of a blemish, but he was stoked his side was able to pay their rivals back and then some.
In handing Orange their second defeat of the summer Dubbo virtually ended the Bluebaggers' hopes of a decider berth and, with their loss to Bathurst in mind, kept their own alive.
We don't like losing at home and we did want to get one back on Orange after last summer.
- Dubbo skipper Mat Skinner
"It was a really good win for the boys because if we had've lost another one we'd have been relying on other results and you don't want to be in that situation," Skinner said.
"We don't like losing at home and we did want to get one back on Orange after last summer. Bathurst pipped us at home earlier this year too so we'd love another crack at them.
"But we've got Parkes next and they look like they'll probably be the other contender, that game will still pretty much be a must-win one for us as well."
Dubbo's victory on Sunday was set up by Charlie Kempston, Jacob Hill and Skinner himself with the bat and then finished off by Nathan Jones with the ball, a couple of slick run outs helped too.
Kempston hammered 66 from just 48 balls at the top of the order and combined with Hill (60 from 90) to put on a quick-fire, 98-run opening stand, laying the foundation for a big score.
Skinner (56 not out from 48), Tom Nelson (39 from 43) and Ben Knaggs (39 from 35) took the reins after they were dismissed to catapult the visitors to 6-300 from their 50 overs.
Although Orange slumped to 3-33 in reply the Bluebaggers did get back on track through Lachie Coyte (58 from 62) and Bailey Ferguson (33 from 34), who added 71 for the fourth wicket.
Coyte was Skinner's (1-30) lone scalp while Ferguson was Jones' (3-53) first, after they were uprooted Tom Belmonte (14 from 13) and Angus Cumming (22 from 21) were run out after making starts, ending Orange's hopes.
Charlie Greer (12 not out from 25) and Brett Causer (26 from 29) put on 39 for the last wicket but it was to no avail as their side fell for 225.
"Charlie did a great job at the top early and Hilly did too, knowing it was a fast outfield and flat deck we wanted to go hard early and we wanted to make a big score, which we did," Skinner said.
"We're in a changing of the guard, for sure, so it's good to see the young blokes standing up and getting the job done."
Coyte admitted to being filthy on himself after making a strong start, which backed up his unbeaten 61 for Orange City on Saturday, but said his side simply didn't value their wickets enough.
"With that deck the way it was I think chasing 300 was realistic, and we lost a few early but we were back on track there for a bit," Coyte said.
"I should've gone on with it, definitely, I'm dirty on the way I got out and maybe none of us really valued our wickets enough. They got away from us early in the day too, they started well and we dropped a couple of chances in the first over which came back to hurt us.
"We're relying on other results now which is less than ideal but I guess we have to take it as it comes now, just try and win the rest of our games.
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