Rugby and Orange City open their account in round 2 BOIDC action

The match of the round at Wade Park lived up to its billing with over 500 runs scored and only 1 separating the two teams at the end of 80 overs.

After winning the toss for the second consecutive week, Cavaliers skipper Bailey Ferguson elected to bat first on a Wade Park deck that looked primed for runs. And that's exactly how the match started, with Ferguson and his opening partner, Matt Corben, putting on 161 for the first wicket before Connor Slattery had Corben caught for 48 in the 21st over.

St Pats Old Boys were then able to slow the run rate somewhat as they took another 5 Cavaliers wickets in reasonably quick succession, which included the wicket of Ferguson for 136 from 93 deliveries. Ferguson’s innings included 11 fours and 8 sixes. John Warrington (31no) and Oli Jarick added valuable runs at the end to push the Cavaliers total to 6-256 at the end of their 40 overs.

Most of the St Pats bowlers took some stick, but it was left arm orthodox bowler, George Pocklington who avoided the carnage, taking 3/28 from his 8 overs. Bailey Brien also picked up 2 wickets from his 8 overs.

The St Pats Old Boys innings got off to a disastrous start, with skipper Bailey Brien run out by a direct hit from Ferguson in the first over to have the Saints 1/1. Cooper Brien then joined Andrew Brown at the crease with the pair taking the score to 56 before Brown was trapped in front by Ferguson. After adding 42 more to the total with Lachlan Barnsley, Cooper Brien was bowled by Toby Middleton. Brien’s innings of 71 came off only 55 deliveries and included 11 boundaries.

Barnsley then had a couple of partners come and go and at 5/141 in the 22nd over, the match was still anyone’s to win. Ben Parsons joined Barnsley at the crease and the pair added 79 for the 6th wicket to swing the pendulum their team’s way, before Ferguson had Parsons caught for 47 from 36 balls. Barnsley was the next to fall for 73, with Kyle Buckley returning to the attack to take his wicket and then remove George Pocklington to leave St Pats 8/252 with one over remaining.

In a fitting end to a fantastic cricket match, the result came down to the very last delivery. With St Pats needing 2 runs to win and a tie a distinct possibility, a run out off the final ball as the batters tried to scramble through for a single to tie the match secured a 1 run victory for Cavaliers.

Kyle Buckley finished with 2/24 from his 8 overs and Toby Middleton next best with 2/40. Bailey Ferguson picked up 2 wickets as well, and debutant Nick Bennett picked up his first in the top grade.

At the Bathurst Sportsground, Bathurst City Redbacks continued their good start to the season with a 74 run win over City Colts. Redbacks were in trouble early as Braeden O’Donnell and Dan Casey took early wickets to have their opponents 3/5. With Mark Day and Jed Cruickshank at the crease, Bathurst City began their fightback, as the pair added 175 for the 4th wicket before Cruickshank fell for 111 from only 75 deliveries including 5 sixes and 13 fours. Cohen Schubert and Day added another 68 for the 5th wicket. Day continued through the end of the innings, bringing up his ton off the second last ball of the innings as Redbacks finished with 5-261. O’Donnell finished with 3/42 from his 8 overs to be the pick of the City Colts attack.

Colts started their run chase well with openers Connor Brown and Kirt Toole adding 51 before Brown fell to Cruickshank. Will Cross and Toole took the score to 108 before Toole was dismissed for 68 in the 25th over. With the required run rate at around sixes, wickets then began to tumble as Colts finished their 40 overs at 8-187. For Redbacks, Schubert picked up 4/3 from his 2 overs, while Cruickshank and Haydn Edwards both picked up two.

Orange City got their first points of the season with a comfortable win over Centrals at Riawena Oval. Centrals won the toss and had first dig, making 9-152 from their time at the crease. Opener Graeme Judge topscored with 58, while Bilal Qadri made 22 down the order. Ollie Brincat was best of the Orange City bowlers with 4/25, while Shaun Grenfell and Brett Causer picked up two wickets each. City managed victory in the 21st over after opener Shaun Grenfell made 53 in an 88 run opening stand with Ed Morrish (27). Fletcher Byrne (41no) and Harry Grindle then saw the Warriors home with 8 wickets in hand.

Rugby Union also secured their first points of the season, in their hard fought 3 wicket win over Orange CYMS at George Park. CYMS made 196 batting first, with allrounder, Aditya Adey making 70 and Lachlan Wykes a quick fire 43 from 18 balls. Earlier, skipper Tom Belmonte had made 27 at the top of the order. Flynn Taylor took 4/37 with the ball for Rugby Union, while left arm spinner Ruben Newton chimed in with 3/23 from 8 overs.

Taylor then rescued his team with the bat, after they had slumped to 5/62, with an unbeaten 68 to get them over the line with 3 balls remaining. Adey continued his good form taking 3/41 with the ball.

Match Summaries

Cavaliers 6-256 (B Ferguson 136 M Corben 48 J Warrington 31no; G Pocklington 3/28 B Brien 2/46) def St Pats Old Boys 9-255 (L Barnsley 73 C Brien 71 B Parsons 47; K Buckey 2/24 T Middleton 2/40 B Ferguson 2/60) by 1 run

Bathurst City 5-261 (J Cruickshank 111 M Day 100no C Schubert 28; B O’Donnell 3/42) def City Colts 8-187 (K Toole 68 R Gardner 45; C Schubert 4/3 H Edwards 2/37 J Cruickshank 2/46) by 74 runs

Orange City 2-155 (S Grenfell 53 F Byrne 41no E Morrish 27) def Centrals 9-152 (G Judge 58; O Brincat 4/24 S Grenfell 2/24 B Causer 2/29) by 8 wickets

Rugby Union 7-197 (F Taylor 68no; A Adey 3/41) def Orange CYMS 196 (A Adey 70 L Wykes 43 T Belmonte 27; F Taylor 4/37 R Newton 3/23) by 3 wickets