Under 12s will host final

Bathurst held on to claim a 19-run win, in a match punctuated by a massive total of 124 wides.

Playing on a synthetic – and relatively thin – strip, both sides struggled with their lines, particularly outside off-stump, but the fact that one side bowled 64 (Orange) and the other 60 meant that the high wide tallies more or less cancelled each other out.

In the end, the difference was some brill-iant fielding from the home team which produced three run-outs as the game began to get tight, as well as some frugal bowling in the closing overs.

“All the bowlers on both sides struggled with their control a bit but Aiden McBurney [1-17] and Nicholas Broes [1-8] really tightened things up and, under pressure, Sam Sloan [1-15] with his leg-spinners was very impressive too,” said Bathurst coach Steve Peacock.

“The boys kept some cool heads under pressure with three run-outs when the game was getting tight and that proved the difference.”

Batting first, Bathurst were steady early on, getting a good contribution from Cole Mutton (25) at the top of the order before they staggered, losing three wickets in one over at one stage to slip to 6-107 in the 23rd over.

That they managed to bat out their remaining overs and finish with 8-155 was a huge effort in the context of the game and Luke Powell’s 20 was vital, while Broes made an important unbeaten 12 batting at number nine.

“Cole hasn’t had a lot of opportunities with the bat this season but he got a chance last week and made 40-odd,” Peacock said.

“We kept him at number three for this match and he did a really good job.

“There were a few telling stands, and to bat out 40 overs after being six-down was a big effort.”

Bathurst will now host the winner out of Orange and the Blue Mountains, who defeated Lithgow in the minor-semi on Sunday.

“We’re pretty evenly matched with Orange so it probably wouldn’t be a surprise to see us playing them again in the decider,” Peacock said.