BATHURST'S Blayde Burke showed he certainly knows how to wield a blade as he blasted an unbeaten 62 off 39 balls to help the Central West Cricket Council under 13s make it two from two in the Cricket NSW Youth Championships on Friday.
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Having opened their campaign with a six-wicket victory over Country rivals Western Plains, Burke and his fellow under 13s were keen to continue their run at Dubbo on Friday.
While heavy rain forced the covers to be kept on early, as the clouds cleared the afternoon arrived and junior players from around the state were able to get their kits on and play.
The Central West under 13s, who are contesting the Thunder Country pool of the championships, took on Murrumbidgee in a Twenty20 fixture at Victoria Park.
After restricting Murrumbidgee to 4-109 off their 20 overs - Bathurst's Cooper Stephen (1-9 off three overs), Liam King (1-22 off two) and Gilby Glawson (1-19 off two) amongst the wicket takers - Burke spearheaded the chase.
Coming in at number four, the Rugby Union Cricket Club talent cracked 10 boundaries in his 40 minutes at the crease to help steer Central West to a seven-wicket win with 5.4 overs to spare.
Stephen hit an unbeaten 16 off 22 as he and Burke helped Central West to victory.
In the under 14s, Bathurst talents again played a leading role in a convincing Central West win against Murrumbidgee in their Thunder Country pool match.
The under 14s had been ultra impressive last Sunday in beating Western Plains by 126 runs and in round two they crushed Murrumbidgee by 10 wickets.
With Bathurst's Mark Sheather leading the way with the new ball - he took 4-19 off seven overs - Murrumbidgee was all out for 88 at Dubbo's Lady Cutler #3.
Bathurst duo Hugh Taylor (39 not out) and Connor Brown (34 not out) opened the batting for Central West and successfully completed the chase in 18 overs.
For Taylor, who had earlier claimed 2-16 off five overs, it capped off a strong all-round display.
Central West made it a clean sweep for the day as the under 15s disposed of Murrumbidgee by two wickets in their Thunder pool match at Lady Cutler 1.
Murrumbidgee managed just 106 batting first, with Bathurst District representatives Jayden Spackman (2-15 off two) and Eli Morris (1-19 off five) amongst the wicket-takers while quick Liam Cain conceded just five runs off his four overs.
In reply Central West got the job done in the 30th over, with Morris finishing unbeaten on 15.
The Central West sides will face CAW Murray on Saturday.
