Led by one usual suspect with the bat and an unlikely hero with the ball, Bathurst City kicked off its Royal Hotel Cup campaign in devastating fashion at Wade Park on Friday night by thumping Kinross.
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Former Western Zone gun Matt Willis led from the front for the Redbacks with willow in hand before Greg Adams – who reportedly “never bowls”, as all-rounder Joey Coughlan put it – proved nigh on unplayable, taking five wickets as the Bathurst side triumphed by 51 runs.
After winning the toss Willis banged out 43 from number four as his side knocked up 6-140 from its 20 overs. Adams then snared 5-17 with his left-arm mediums to help Redbacks skittle Kinross for just 89.
“It was a good win, we batted well on a deck which was pretty tricky at the start and bowled well to finish it off,” Coughlan said.
“That kind of performance gives us plenty of confidence going into the rest of our games, particularly because we were a bit under-strength and our next game’s against CYMS.
“[Willis] batted really well, he tore his calf muscle so he had to just stand and deliver and then Greg, he bowled well, but he never bowls.
“But we were a bowler down so he got a roll and picked a few up.”
Adams (seven) was dismissed early in Redbacks’ dig, before Coughlan (27), Ben Orme (26) and Willis steadied the ship.
“We actually wanted more than 140, we were sitting on 120-odd with five overs left. The Kinross guys bowled well at the end, but we were confident with that score on the board,” Coughlan said.