IF there was ever a chance for Centennials Bulls to make their move then this is it.
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The arrival of Bathurst District Cricket Association’s Twenty20 matches gives the winless Bulls the opportunity to show their strength in the shorter format and climb off the bottom of the ladder.
The team are the defending champions of Orange’s Royal Hotel Cup competition and boast several members who were a part of the Lithgow Lightning’s 2016-17 season victory in the same tournament.
Combining Lithgow recruits Ryan and Joel Gurney plus Chris Redding with the likes of Bulls bit hitters Troy Kenny and Andrew Brown gives the team a huge presence in the Twenty20 form of the game.
The fact Bulls haven’t won this season counts for little as the competition heads into a big-hitting phase in the run towards Christmas.
They have just the one game this Saturday, coming against defending BDCA first grade champions Rugby Union.
It’s those usual suspects who Bulls captain Brown expects to fire across their matches over the next two weeks.
“The two Gurney, Reddo and Hutch [Mick Hutchinson] have all played a lot of Twenty20 cricket over the few years with both us and Lithgow,” he said.
“They all play key roles for us as well.”
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Bulls won five of their six games on their way to the 2017-18 Royal Hotel Cup title.
However, their BDCA first grade form has seeped into their cup defence, dropping both of their Orange matches so far to remaining without a win across any format.
“It only takes one person to stand up with the bat and another with the ball to do a lot of damage,” he said.
“Hutch and Reddo are back in for us. They didn’t play in our last game, and the rest of our side should be the same.
“With Rugby it depends who they’ve got. Sam Macpherson tends to score his runs quickly but they haven’t got anyone who will out-and-out score really quick. In my opinion they’re more of a patient team.”
Ryan Gurney comes into the game off an excellent knock of 85 in the team's most recent loss to St Pat’s Old Boys.
He didn’t receive much help in the team’s chase as Centennials came up 40 runs shy, although their bowling stocks showed plenty of potential.
The disadvantage of playing outside the Royal Hotel Cup means Bulls can’t make use of their big-hitting marquee man Mick Curtale.
Bulls will get plenty of help elsewhere.
The return of Hutchinson and Redding will be a big boost to Bulls’ bowling stocks.
Centennials have the bye over the opening round of matches and will play Rugby Union during the later set of games at 4pm on Morse Park.
