Bathurst waltzed into the Mitchell Cricket Council under 16s final after cruising to a comfortable victory win over Lithgow in its semi-final match on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It took Bathurst just 8.5 overs to chase down the visitors total of 54 runs at Morse Park, as the hosts annihilated Lithgow to progress to the final on February 25.
Co-coach Phil Cant warned his team about being complacent heading into Sunday’s game.
“They bowled and fielded really well,” he said.
“It was a good, big win. Only two weeks ago we played them and we made sure they weren’t complacent heading into this game.
“Jack Goodsell was probably the best player on the day. He took three wickets, some of Lithgow’s top batsmen.”
Kiran and Pawan Gajula opened the batting for the visiting Lithgow side, before they were caught out off a Goodsell and Hugh Parsons ball respectively.
Goodsell also snagged the wickets of number three Lachlan Yates and skipper and St Pat’s Old Boys first grader Tanvir Singh.
Goodsell eventually finished with the best bowling stats of the day – 3-8 off six overs, which included three maidens.
Ben Cant took two wickets, while Parsons, Ben Mitchell, Riley Comerford, Tim Powell and Bailey Brien took one each.
“I also thought our two keepers – Sam Hall and Matt Beattie – took some outstanding catches,” Cant said.
Luke Thompson top scored with just 14 runs for Lithgow, as the visitors were dismissed after 32.1 overs.
Brien and Ben Cant opened the batting for Bathurst, with Brien finished with 40 runs not out off 36 balls.
Cant was bowled out for eight runs and Sam Hall finished with one run not out, as Bathurst won the game with a score of 1-55.
Bathurst had only played Lithgow two weeks earlier, on February 4, cruising to a comfortable 137-run victory on that occasion which meant the team finished the regular season undefeated after four games.
The under 16s will now host this Sunday’s final, which is expected to be played in Bathurst.
Cant said its exciting to see the juniors qualifying for the final.
“They’ve been playing some really good cricket all season,” he said.
“We just have to make sure they’re not complacent heading into the final.”
Bathurst will now play a red hot Orange side, who cruised to a comfortable 199-run win over Mudgee at Jack Brabham Park on Sunday.
Sunday’s game between Bathurst and Orange is expected to start at 10am.
