THE ball was wet and the Brooke Moore Park deck offered bowlers less than it had a week earlier, but Andrew Kreuzberger was still able to claim the second five-wicket haul of his career.
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The Centennials Bulls seamer became the ninth bowler to join the list of those to take a five or more wickets in an innings in the Bathurst District Cricket Association's second grade competition this season last Saturday in his side's match against Rugby Union.
While his effort was not enough to save the Bulls from defeat in the two-dayer - Rugby had set the platform for the win the previous week on the back of Stuart Grallelis' 5-27 off 13 overs - Kreuzberger still impressed his skipper Craig Windus.
"He bowled from the one end from the first week which was eight overs, then he bowled 16 straight in the rain on Saturday with a ball that was like a cake of soap, he did well," Windus said.
"It was a bit different to the pitch we'd played on the week before I can tell you. It was green and popping and seaming everywhere the first week.
"I spoke to a guy who said they had the roller out, they rolled it Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. I went 'Oh well that's why it played a lot better'."
Since first joining the Bulls in season 2017-18 in presidents cup, Kreuzberger has continued to improve his bowling.
He took a 5-15 against St Pat's that first summer and has gone to open the bowling for the Bulls in second grade.
"He started in presidents cup probably about four or five years ago with me and he played a bit of first grade last year," Windus said. "He's just one of those kids who wants to play and enjoy his cricket.
"His bowling has just got better and better. He's a big lad and he lets them go pretty quick. His line and length varies a little bit, but once he's on the money he seams it around and takes wickets, so he's a handy cricketer."
After Bulls were all out for 93 on day one, Kreuzberger took two wickets before stumps to help reduce Rugby to 4-42.
While Rugby went on to take first innings honours on the second day of play - one which had constant interruptions due to rain - Kreuzberger managed to take three more victims.
