Western Zone Cup win against Bathurst

Our Western Zone Cup team travelled to Bathurst for the final round, knowing that a win would see them through to the final.

Bathurst won the toss and sent us in to bat, which earned the hosts an early reward with the wicket of Will Younghusband with our score on 15. Fletcher Byrne joined Harry McDonald at the crease and the pair too our score to 109 before Fletch was trapped in front for a run-a-ball 54. Ollie Brincat and Harry added another 22 before Harry was run out for 54. Ollie Brincat was next to go for 25 with our score at 4-158. Batting at 6, Toby Middleton made 32 to be last out, with our total on 221.

Fergus Smith, playing his first match for Orange, picked up a wicket in his first over to have Bathurst 1-1. After a good opening spell from Fergus and Nick Bennett, it wasn’t until Harry Dyer was introduced into the attack that we picked up the second Bathurst wicket to have them 2-37. Kobe Muir and Jon Cronin then combined to take their score to 96 before Muir was run out.

Then when Dyer had Cronin caught to have Bathurst 4-121 followed by two more quick wickets to Ollie Brincat and Toby Jackson, we had our noses in front with Bathurst still needing 88 from 16 overs and only the 4 wickets in hand. Toby Jackson picked up his second wicket four overs later to leave Bathurst 7-152 and then picked up 2 more in the 42nd over to have the win within our reach. Jack Conolly finished their innings off two overs later to see us home by 49 runs with a place in the final secured.

The final will be played at Mudgee's Victoria Park after Mudgee accounted for Parkes in today's other match, to lock down top spot.

Orange 221 (Fletcher Byrne 54 Harry McDonald 54 Toby Middleton 32 Ollie Brincat 25) def Bathurst 172 (Toby Jackson 4/24 Harry Dyer 2/36 Jack Conolly 1/3 Fergus Smith 1/14)