CENTENNIALS Bulls skipper Josh Toole continued his impressive form on Saturday to help set rivals Rugby Union a testing chase in their Bathurst District Cricket Association two-day match.
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Representative commitments have limited the amount of club cricket Toole has played so far this season, but when he has been present for the Bulls, he has been one of their best.
On Saturday as the opening round of two-dayers got underway, Toole crashed five sixes on his way to scoring 79 opening the batting at Brooke Moore Oval.
It was the fourth time in five innings he has gone past the half century mark, Toole averaging just under 90 runs.
Toole’s effort, along with 76 from Cowra recruit Mick Curtale, and 46 from Brett Archer helped the Bulls to a total of 273.
By stumps Rugby had scored 50 of the runs it requires for victory, but lost one wicket in doing so. Imran Qureshi fell for a duck, with Chris Albon (15) and Ryan Peacock (36) the not out batsmen.
While Rugby skipper Sam Macpherson was pleased with the effort of his side in the field as they look to retain the competition lead, he acknowledged the efforts of his rivals.
“All our bowlers bowled really well, but Tooley and Curtale were very dominating at the start,” he said.
“It was a good days’ cricket. We took catches that we normally wouldn’t, which is great to see.
“I would have liked to finish the day with 10 wickets in hand, but that’s cricket, the game is right in the balance.”
After winning the toss, Toole opted to bat as his side chased its first win of the season against Rugby.
Toole and Andrew Brown (nine) scored at over four runs an over as they made a solid start, the score reaching 75 before the latter departed.
Seven overs later Albon had the scalp of Toole and while dangerous all-rounder Aaron Seymour fell to Peacock for a duck to make it 3-121, Curtale was just settling in.
He went on to notch up his second half century of the season before Macpherson trapped him leg before wicket on 76 to make it 5-176.
That saw Brett Archer arrive at the crease and he made his intent clear, his first three scoring shots sent to the boundary.
Archer and Kyle Aubin put on 59-runs for the sixth wicket before James Tristrum demonstrated why he has been one of the best bowlers in the competition thus far.
He sent Aubin on his way for 26 then his next ball crashed into the stumps to have Percy Raveneau out for a duck.
Though his hat-trick ball was a dot, three overs later he sent Archer on his way for 46. Tristrum finished with 3-55 off 13 overs.
When Archer went it was 9-256, Bulls putting on 17 more runs before the final wicket fell.
