Western Zone has kept its hopes of a NSW Country Colts Championship title alive after Nic Broes and Marty Jeffrey inspired a dominant victory over Illawarra on Tuesday.
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Played at Tamworth’s Riverside No. 5 Oval, Bathurst’s Broes and Dubbo’s Jeffrey produced an incredible 221-run opening stand and both scored centuries as Western piled on 5/308 from its 50 overs.
The bowlers then stuck to the task and four wickets each to Dubbo pair Tom Atlee and Brock Larance sealed the 91-run win, a perfect response to Monday’s loss to Riverina.
“It was outstanding. Especially considering the disappointment of yesterday,” Western coach Matt Tabbernor said.
“We played great in tough conditions. It was about 39 degrees and a bit of a smaller ground so it was very pleasing.”
Tabbernor struggled to find words to describe the quality of the Broes-Jeffrey partnership and he wasn’t the only one.
The umpires approached the Western coach after the match and told him it was a pleasure to be in the middle and witnessing such a talented pair pile on the runs.
Broes was more of the aggressor, Jeffrey battled to find form early, but they complimented each other perfectly.
“Apart from a couple of moments where they couldn't get it away, they never gave a chance,” Tabbernor said.
“They ran well together and put the bad ball away.”
Broes hit 16 fours in his knock of 116 while Jeffrey also added 55 for the fourth wicket with Henry Railz (29).
There were some nervy moments in the final overs as Jeffrey chased the milestone but he got there in time and fell late on for 105.
The total of 5/308 was a mountain for Illawarra to climb but the chase began well.
Patrick Rees (58) and Matthew Calder (52) gave Illawarra some hope but Western kept chipping away and RSL-Colts quick Tom Atlee entered the fray late on and sealed victory for his side.
He finished with 4/24 while Brock Larance was again a standout and his off-spin brought about four wickets as well.
Hamish Starr (1/23) and Jeffrey (1/40) were the other wicket-takers.
“In the 30-40 over spell we took 6-33 and that changed the game,” Tabbernor said.
“Brock took three of his wickets in that time and then Tom Atlee came on.
“But our fielding was exceptional too, we stopped a lot of runs.”
Riverina smashed Newcastle on Tuesday to make it two-from-two, leaving Western to hope the southerners are upset by Illawarra in Wednesday’s final round of pool matches.
Western meets Newcastle, a side which has endured successive losses, on Wednesday, knowing only a huge victory can give them a chance of making the final.
“Getting a bonus point today (Tuesday) was important because, I think, Riverina got two,” Tabbernor said.
“That would mean we need to win with a bonus point (against Newcastle) but we’re not going to think about that.
“We can only worry about us and our processes and whatever the result is, that’s the result.”