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BATHURST’S Western representatives just missed out on taking out the Kookaburra Cup in Newcastle last week after suffering a defeat in the final of the NSW Country under 14s tournament at the hands of North Coastal.
Chasing 220 for victory, Western gave it a good shake and Bathurst batsman Nick Broes – one of the stars of the carnival for his side – was a central part of it as he made 37 opening the innings.
Western couldn’t quite muster the runs needed for the win, their charge ending just after another Bathurst player in Ben Mitchell (11) was run out, finishing their 50 overs at 9-192.
Earlier Mitchell had taken 2-20 in a good performance with the ball as his side tried to restrict the powerful North Coastal team, led by a brilliant 117 from Jack Cooper – the younger brother of Big Bash star Tom Triffitt.
The performances of Mitchell and Broes, who were joined by another Bathurst player in Ryan Campbell in the squad, were enough to earn them a spot each in two further representative sides.
A combined Western-Riverina Kangaroos squad has been named for both the under 13s and under 14s age groups for an upcoming carnival in Dubbo, with Mitchell making the under 13s team and Broes the under 14s.
Mitchell is joined in the under 13s Kangaroos by two more Bathurst players in Ben Cant and Sam Hall.
Broes started his Kookaburra Cup week in strong fashion as he led the way from the top of the order in Western’s win over Riverina in round one. He made 47 out of his team’s 5-178 after 50 overs.
Tight bowling, which included 0-9 off three from Campbell, restricted Riverina to 9-149 at the end of their innings.
The following day Broes again was solid against the new ball as his team built another strong score, making 25 out of their 8-185 against Central Coast.
Central Coast started their chase well enough to be 1-52, but wickets began to tumble. Campbell played a part as he claimed 2-18 from nine tight overs of spin.
Mitchell finished with 0-14 from three overs and Central Coast were dismissed for 143 in the 44th over.
It left Western on the verge of a finals spot, but they needed a win in their last match against Illawarra. They didn’t just get a victory – they produced a clinic.
Broes finally had a failure as he fell for a duck, but opening partner Tom Atlee from Dubbo held things together with a fine 88 out of a team total of 247.
Campbell also made a duck but came back with the ball to pick up 1-14 alongside Mitchell’s 0-10 off five, Illawarra finishing at 9-97 and well off their opponents’ pace.
“We improved each day of the carnival and the batting, which was a bit of a concern at the start of the week, just got better and better which was great to see,” Western coach Garth Dean said.
“The bowling also got better but we felt that it was a bit of a strength.
“In the final there was just the one young kid in the other team, who is already playing under 17s cricket, who just had an hour-and-a-half where he smashed everything. I think he hit 16 of their 19 boundaries.
“We did have a chance early on to get him, a tough one, and if we take that we probably win the game.”