DEFENDING Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade champions Rugby Union have bounced back from defeat in a big way, downing Centennials Bulls in an outright victory on Saturday courtesy of a Jameel Qureshi masterclass.
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Qureshi produced back-to-back unbeaten knocks of 90 and 29 and claimed 5-40 during the Bulls’ second innings in a result which has taken his team to the top of the table.
Rugby had declared on 3-193 after racing past the Bulls’ first innings total of 71 during the opening day’s play. Aiden McBurney’s seven wicket haul had restricted Centennials to their double digit score.
Centennials were much improved during the following’s weekend’s action at the Sportsground as they made their way to 176 runs.
That left Rugby with a target for 55 for the outright victory, which they managed to reach while three wickets down.
Rugby captain Sam Macpherson had expected an improved Bulls side for Saturday’s game and that’s certainly what his side encountered.
However, despite a valiant effort from Bulls to avoid the outright defeat, Rugby still had enough time up their sleeve to chase down the required runs.
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“As expected, it was a much tougher day than day one, especially without Aiden McBurney and Jeremy Thackray,” Macpherson said.
“They were very patient with the bat on a Sportsground deck that had very little in it for the bowlers.
“They made it hard for us to get the outright win, Jameel got five wickets after Tyler Horton got the break through with two quick ones. The other boys bowled extremely well with not much luck.
“Was great to see Sam Sloan on debut take a catch and get a wicket at the end.”
Bulls had strong starts with the bat from several players, the best of them being Mick Hutchinson with 34, but none of them went on to craft a match-saving knock.
Horton finished with the next-best figures after Qureshi with 2-33 off his nine overs.
They made it hard for us to get the outright win.
- Sam Macpherson
Such is the significance of Rugby’s win that they managed to more than double their season points tally in a single match, scoring 15.1 from the game to shoot them up to 30.1.
Rugby’s big jump up the table shows that the season is still far from over for Bulls but their next match against a Bathurst City side will be a massive test.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
