The final round of one day matches was played on Saturday, with Orange City, Orange CYMS and St Pats Old Boys each picking up a bonus point.
Orange City took on Centrals at Riawena Oval, desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top 4. Batting first, the Warriors posted the third highest one day match totals in the 20-season history of the BOIDC, making 9-294 from their 40 overs.
After losing opener Harry Grindle early, Tim Hunt (59) and Fletcher Byrne (40) combined for a 99-run stand for the 2nd wicket, with Hunt’s runs coming from 45 deliveries and including 7 fours and 2 sixes. Tom Markey top scored with 63 from only 34 deliveries and Ollie Brincat also made a run a ball 35. Best of the Centrals bowlers was Rowan Dray, who picked up 2 for 27 from his 5 overs while Rupert Begg also bagged a double, taking 2/46 from his 8 overs.
Centrals made a bright start to the chase, with Graeme Judge (38) and Aijdan Mannering adding 46 for the first wicket, but the loss of Mannering’s wicket triggered a mini collapse with the red and blacks losing 5 quick wickets to stumble to 5/59. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there as they were eventually all out for 92. Brett Causer was the star of the show taking 6/17 from his 6.2 overs, while Hayden Griffith picked up 2/8.
The battle between first placed Cavaliers and third placed St Pats Old Boys at Bathurst Sportsground turned out to be a day for the bowlers, with 18 wickets falling and only 170 runs scored. Cavaliers were bowled out for 83 as Hugh Parsons took 4/14 from his 8 overs and Ben Parsons 2/11 from 5. John Warrington top scored for Cavaliers at number 10, making 16 not out. St Pats Old Boys didn’t fare a whole lot better with the bat as they limped past the Cavaliers total 8 wickets down. Bailey Brien made 22 for the Saints and Adam Ryan 19. Harry Pearce took 5/25 and Tom Blowes 3/17.
Across the road at Morse Park in the Rugby Union v Bathurst City match, Jed Cruickshank took an amazing 5 wickets in 5 balls to completely flip the match on its head. With Rugby 5/110 and looking to push on to a much larger total, Cruickshank trapped Jarrod Edwards in front on the second ball of the 27th over, before he proceeded to bowl the next 4 batters in consecutive deliveries to dismiss the Bulldogs for 110. Cruickshank finished with 5/30 off 6 overs and Haydn Edwards picked up 2/21. Ruben Newton watched it all unfold from the non-striker’s end, top scoring for his team with 44 not out. Ryan Peacock had earlier made 31 off 18 balls opening the innings.
Cruickshank then finished off what he started, top scoring for Redbacks with 37 as his team made it home with 5 wickets and almost 7 overs to spare. Will Rodwell anchored the innings with his 31, while Flynn Taylor was the best of the Rugby Union bowlers, taking 2/19 from his 8 overs.
In the final match Orange CYMS easily accounted for City Colts at Loco Oval. Batting first, the green and golds made 222 before they were dismissed in the 40th over. Skipper Tom Belmonte led the way for his team with 40, while Greg Donaldson (34), Joey Coughlan (27), Clint Moxon (27), Johnty French (25) and Harry Priest (22) all chipped in. Cooper Stephen was the best of the Colts attack, with his 4/31 from 7.3 overs and Archie Elliott took 3/53 from his 8 overs.
Peter Gott made early inroads into the City Colts top order, taking 3 early wickets, from which Colts never really recovered as they were eventually dismissed for 103. Kurt Toole contributed 39 at the top of the order while Russell Gardner ran out of partners, finishing 24 not out. Peter Gott took 3/29 from his 6 overs, while Joey Coughlan also bagged 3 wickets, taking 3/21 from 8.
Cavaliers continue to lead the competition on 54 points, with Orange CYMS now only 6 points behind on 48 and St Pats Old Boys a further point back on 47. Rugby Union retain 4th spot on 34, only 3 points in front of Orange City who are now on 31 points. Bathurst City sit 8 points further back on 23, with Centrals 18 and City Colts on 13 rounding out the table.
Two day cricket resumes next week for the final run to the semi finals.