Bathurst City have climbed above Rugby Union into 6th position and while the Redbacks will need results to go their way in the final round, their finals hopes have been kept alive with their outright win over Orange City at Bathurst Sportsground.
After electing to bat first, Bathurst City were dismissed for 237 in their first innings. Jed Cruickshank top scored for Redbacks with a quick 76 off 68 deliveries that included 5 fours and 5 sixes, to help lift his team out of a hole at 7-129. Brad Johnson 3-62 and Ryan Manning 2-33 fared best with the ball for the Warriors.
Orange City opener Brett Causer (31 no) and 2nd drop Shaun Grenfell (26 no) saw their team to 2-64 at stumps after they had lost a couple of early wickets. Grenfell was dismissed early on day 2 for 34, which triggered a mini collapse from which the Warriors never really recovered. Causer pushed on with his innings to top score with 63 before being the 2nd last wicket to fall as Orange City were dismissed for 153. Clint Moxon claimed five of the eight 1st innings wickets to fall on day 2 to finish with 5/61 off 24 overs.
Redbacks enforced the follow-on and Orange City didn’t fare any better second time around, all out for 132. Skipper Ed Morrish led the way with 39 while Tim Hunt (28) and Brett Causer (27no) also pitched in. Jamie Cruickshank picked up 4/36, Jed Cruickshank 3/31 and Blake Kreuzberger 2/18.
Ed Morrish sent a scare through the Bathurst City camp, taking 3 wickets in the first 4 balls of their 2nd innings as they chased 49 for the outright victory. Jamie Cruickshank (22no) made sure of the victory, helping get his team home 4 wickets down; Morrish picked up all 4 wickets, finishing with 4/21.
Orange CYMS have remined in 2nd place and confirmed Rugby Union's season is over with their first innings win over the Bulldogs.
CYMS put themselves in a commanding position after day 1 at Wade Park. Batting first, the green and golds finished the day at 8-277 with Sammy Austin (59), Joey Coughlan (56), Charlie Tink (41) and Rory Daburger (39) all contributing. Tanvir Singh picked up 3-60 from his 17 overs, to be the best of the Rugby bowlers.
Day 2 began with Tom Belmonte declaring his team’s innings closed, leaving Rugby Union with 278 runs to chase for the win. Rugby was not able to put together the partnerships they needed as the CYMS bowlers took control. Joey Coughlan (4/63) and Rory Daburger (3/29) were the pick of the CYMS attack as Rugby Union fell 118 runs short of the CYMS total. Flynn Taylor (37) was the best with the willow for Rugby Union, while opener Imran Qureshi also made a patient 32.
City Colts now trail 4th placed St Pats Old Boys by 2 points following their first innings win over the Saints at Loco Oval.
City Colts were sent in to bat by St Pats Old Boys and finished the first day at 9-248. Russell Gardner (64) and Daniel Casey (61) led the way with the bat. Ben Sennett (3-12) and Jay Webber (2-25) were the multiple wicket takers for Saints.
Colts batted 5.3 overs into day 2 before their final wicket fell at 259. At 9/169 in the St Pats Old Boys innings, the result appeared a foregone conclusion, however Saints' final wicket pairing of Ethan Comerford (44) and Ben Sennett (22no) had other ideas. The pair daringly put on 75 for the last wicket to have their team in sight of victory before Guy Hammond dismissed Comerford leaving them just 16 runs short of their victory target. Dave Henderson was superb with the ball, finishing with 5/59 off 21 overs, while Hammond picked up 4/77.
Cavaliers maintained their place at the top of the points table, having the bye and are now assured of a finish in the top 2. Orange CYMS have also confirmed a place in the semi-finals, with final positions still to be decided. The remaining 4 teams playing in next week's final round are fighting it out for the 2 remaining semi-final places.