Blayney came away with a win after taking on the Bathurst Bushrangers at Dakers Oval on Saturday.
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After Blayney lost the toss “again”, bowling first on a hot day was not looking like much fun.
I’m really happy we finally put bat on ball... our energy in the field set the tone for today, that’s why we got first innings points. But there's still next week and the game's not done yet.
- Skipper Nathan Wells
Jack Garrity (1/11 off 6) and Nathan Wells (3/22 off 10) opened, with Jack being taken for eight off his first over, finishing on those figures after six overs, was an outstanding recovery. On the last ball of Wellsy’s second over, he took his first wicket, striking again in his third over, placing an enormous amount of pressure on the Bushranger’s and setting Blayney up for the rest of the day.
Two months ago, Hayden Webb-Pratt dropped catches, couldn’t bowl and couldn’t bat, and he would readily agree with that...A sometimes frustrated Hayden persisted.
He stuck at it, turned up to training EVERY week, worked on getting better with “a little help from his friends” – Bailey and Jack. On Saturday Hayden was rewarded with two wickets (2/14 off 2), two catches and thirteen runs, with one of those catches, now a top candidate for “catch of the season”.
Just like Hayden’s accent, his form turnaround is a complete mystery? Keep it up, keep improving and well done mate.
Blair Holgate (1/12 off 5) and “Angry” Alex Kinghorne (2/16 off 5) proved a lethal combination, the pair going to work early, tormenting and ripping through the batsman, one after the other. Bailey (0/6 off 1), “saved himself for later in the day”, whereas Taylor Hobby (0/28 off 4) and Harry Taylor (0/37 off 3) both had chances and catches dropped, with their figures not reflecting their performances.
Chasing 154 to win, Jordan Hobby (11) and Jack Garrity (22) opened the batting, getting away to a safe start until Jordan, aiming for a boundary, simply mistimed it and was bowled. Madison Marmion (7) was keen, eager and nervous all at once, and after settling in, a perfect ball snuck though her defences and she was bowled.
“Big Bash” (35) joined Jack at the crease and after running for two, then Jack being bowled, made the decision that it was too hot to do much of that “running”...his next scores being...4...4...6...4...4...4...6...out! (Losing a ball, in the process...) Nathan Wells (35) after a smooth and confident start was dismissed by a handy catch. In came Callum Burrell (4) who batted with Wellsy until drinks, before being bowled soon after.
The game now hanging in the balance, a controlled and “unusually quiet” Bailey Perkins, produced a wonderful monumental season defining performance, toiling away, rather than “slogging or flogging”, Bailey, alongside
Hayden Webb Pratt reeled in the score, winning Blayney first innings points.
Next Saturday with Harry Taylor (1 no) and Alex Kinghorne (1 no) at the crease and Taylor Hobby still to bat, Blayney sit at seven down for 214, a lead of sixty one runs.
Captain Nathan Wells said, “I’m really happy, we finally put bat on ball...OUR energy in the field, set the tone for today, that’s why we got first innings points. But, there is still next week and the games not done yet!”
Just a Mention... A certain Blayney cricketer playing for Bushrangers, batted both” incredibly and annoyingly” well, proving difficult to dismiss, until “finally” going (nearly an hour later) for twelve runs...then the kid comes out and fields like he is playing for Australia... (Yeah, um, cheers Xavier....but, honestly a great effort...!)
Friday Night Raffles – The Royal Hotel – Blayney.
Next Week – 2 nd Innings vs Bushrangers @ 1.30pm Dakers Oval.
