CRICKET
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Kinross bowler Hugh Britton isn’t a renowned wielder of the willow, and as such hasn’t really troubled the scorers on many occasions throughout the start of his cricket career.
His highest first grade score is 33.
But, yesterday at Riawena Oval against Bathurst, he smashed that with a fighting 93 not out that came at the perfect time for both himself and his Orange under-19 side, who managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the opening Mitchell Cricket Council colts clash of the 2015-16 summer.
Chasing 232 – an innings inspired by Callum Hotham’s second century in as many days following victory with his City Colts club on Saturday – Orange was 4-13 before limping to 6-69 when Britton entered the crease.
The hard-hitting right hander then put on 26 with Jack Dodds (17), before Josh Coyte’s (one) short stay at the crease brought about the entry of Luke Kilkeary, who dug in alongside Britton for a game-changing ninth-wicket stand of 133, one that eventually won the game for the baby bluebaggers.
“All bowlers like to think they can bat,” Britton grinned.
“It’s my first 50, and I’ve just fallen short of 100, which is a shame. But it was good to be out there with Lukey and get the boys home for the win.
“He’s a cool-headed kid and his running between the wickets was good.”
In what was an enthralling game of cricket, Bathurst started horribly before Callum Hotham (125) and Jeremy Judge (41) put together a 140-run third wicket partnership to take the game away from the hosts at 2-163 after 31 overs.
But pandemonium between the wickets resulted in a stunning five run outs, and brought what could have been a 300-plus total back down to 232.
Orange’s top order faulted under the unrelenting new-ball barrage of Joe Lemmich (4-42) and Judge (2-47), however, with the hosts reeling at 2-9 and then 4-13 in reply.
Tom Belmonte’s 23 and Chris Warren’s 26 ensured Orange clung on to hope though, and when Britton eventually arrived the straight-hitting newly-anointed all-round produced the innings of his short career to steer Orange colts to an unlikely victory, making the most of the low and slow bounce at Riawena Oval along the way.
“When I came out to bat I just looked at it as my type of ground,” he said.
“I’m not very good at playing square of the wicket and thought playing straight, this would be my type of game. I got a few away early and just seemed to find the middle of the bat. It kept going from there.”
Bathurst manager Jake Bognuda was left ruing what might have been.
“It wasn’t great. I thought we were a shoo-in there,” he said. “A couple of bad decisions, I thought, but that’s cricket.”
“Callum Hotham got 125 ... unreal. He smashed a big six that lost the ball ... he moved on to it really quickly. He and Judgey got a 150-odd run partnership, that’s good for us.”
What wasn’t good, though, was his side’s execution between the wickets.
“We had five run outs today, so that’s a problem for us. Better communication will be needed,” he added.