THEY booked themselves a place in one semi-final this week by impressing with the bat and come Saturday, Centennials Bulls will need to fire once more with the willow to boost their chances of qualifying for another.
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On Wednesday night Bulls kept their hopes of a Royal Hotel Cup title defence alive by winning their do-or-die Twenty20 fixture against Orange CYMS.
Bulls produced the second-largest successful chase in the Orange-based competition’s seven-season history to stay in the hunt, running down CYMS’ 7-162. They got there with five wickets and six balls to spare.
Josh Toole (57 off 44) and marquee player Mick Curtale (38 off 32) got the chase off to a flying start opening the batting, belting nine boundaries and fives sixes between them.
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It was an effort that Bulls skipper Andrew Brown felt made the difference.
“It guess the turning point was just the way Mick and Tooley started, we didn’t lose a wicket until the 10th over,” he said.
“It’s just that experience of two of the region’s best batsmen. But everyone chipped in with the bat, the outfield was pretty quick and the wicket was good too, so I think 160 was a par score.”
As well as Toole and Curtale’s effort opening the innings, an unbeaten 23 off 13 from Blake Aubin was valuable as well.
Earlier Curtale took 1-14 off four overs – a standout performance on a night when bowlers went for plenty – while Chris Redding (2-36 off four) and Mick Hutchinson (2-32 off three) also did a job.
The win means Bulls finished second in their pool behind Cavaliers, and will now face either St Pat’s Old Boys or Orange City in the semi-finals.
“It was good win for the boys, it’s been a long season so far,” Brown said.
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The focus for Brown and his fellow Bulls now turns to their Bathurst District Cricket Association two-day match against Rugby Union at the Sportsground.
Brown’s side will be under big pressure to avoid an outright defeat, with Rugby having already secured first innings points.
The Bulls were dismissed for just 71 in their first innings – Aidan McBurney tearing through their line up with 7-17 – while Rugby hit 3-193 declared in reply.
Bulls lost a wicket in their second dig before stumps and will resume at 1-11, but their cause will be aided with Ryan Gurney, who is averaging 41, Percy Raveneau and Scott Jablonskis coming into the side for day two.
“Having those guys back will help,” Brown said.
“They bowled pretty well to start off with last week, to get myself and Joel [Gurney] out in the first over – we were probably our best batsmen on the day – didn’t help us. But credit where credit's due, they bowled well.
“We’ve just got to try and bat the day out this week.”
