A STUNNING all-round performance from Ryan Peacock helped take Bathurst to victory over hosts Dubbo in their McDonalds Country Cup clash on Sunday.
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Batting first, Bathurst made 7-260 thanks to half-centuries from Peacock (75) and captain Jameel Qureshi (56).
Peacock was also the leading wicket taker for Bathurst with his remarkable haul of 5-18.
Dubbo’s Mitch Bower blasted the Bathurst bowling attack for 93 runs but received little in the way of support as his team crumbled to be all out for 171 in reply.
On the field, Bathurst simply played the better cricket despite the fact that for an two hours Bower threatened to take the match away from them.
Qureshi praised his side’s resilience, admitting it would have been easy for them to get disheartened when Bower was teeing off.
“I just said that when the chance came from him we had to take it,” Qureshi said.
“We did that and it proved vital. In saying that Mitch batted unbelievably well.
“We’ve got a real good vibe in the team at the moment, we’ve played a lot of cricket together now and to win this game and progress in this comp is a real boost for us.”
James O’Brien (5-32) was the pick of the Dubbo bowling cartel, who had to do without leg-spinner Marty Jeffrey due to a groin injury he sustained during the game.
Bower was joined at the crease by Greg Buckley and they took the score to 2-104 at the first drinks break.
But Buckley’s demise for 13 signalled the beginning of the end as Dubbo lost 8-56 to be all out for 171.
Bower’s innings of 93 included eight sixes.
“It’s disappointing obviously but we just weren’t good enough in the end,” Bower said.
“We dropped some catches in the field and probably let them get 40 more than they should have.
“In the end that probably didn’t matter because we didn’t get 220 anyway.”