Veteran CYMS batsman Dave Neil knows what it takes to anchor an innings.
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He's scored runs at virtually all levels of country cricket, and after whacking a match-winning, unbeaten 77 for the green and golds in a commanding eight-wicket victory over Kinross in the second round of the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket premiership race, he again proved he'll be one of the key wickets across the competition in 2020-21.
But, importantly for a young CYMS outfit hoping to remain competitive this summer, Neil enjoyed some help on the weekend.
Off-season recruit Rory Daburger banged out an important 80 at the top of the order for CYMS.
Together Neil and Daburger put together a 139-run, second-wicket stand and Neil, currently on top of the BOIDC run-scorers board with an average of 147, says his young, red-headed batting partner has all the skills to anchor the green and golds' batting line-up this summer.
"Daburger was terrific, really batted well," Neil said.
"He rotated the strike fantastically in the first 10 overs, which is hard to do against a side that fields as well as Kinross. Then he opened up and put the foot down through the middle overs to take all the pressure off.
"Two games into his time with the club and we're very happy to have him. If he can continue in that vein and work hard to improve even more he'll be a key player with bat and ball in the team for a long time to come."
The students set 8-191 on the back of a brilliant 74 from Wally Prowse, while George Cumming's 48 proved key for Kinross as well.
CYMS slow bowler Adam Smith bamboozled the students though, nabbing both of Kinross' top scorers to leave the field with figures of 4-32.
"It's good to get a win under our belts. We probably should have won both but fell apart when it mattered against City in the first round, so it's pleasing to correct that immediately with a win," Neil added.
"We didn't bowl or field well, certainly not to a standard that will put us in contention. To have them 4-20-odd and then conceded close to 200 is not good enough, and we'll need to improve."
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