Cowra won’t be challenging the McDonald’s Country Cup Western Zone final after suffering a five-wicket defeat in Parkes on Sunday.
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Played at Woodward Oval, Parkes successfully chased Cowra’s innings of 8-152 with the loss of five wickets and seven overs remaining.
The result means Parkes and Bathurst, who beat Dubbo on Sunday, will go head-to-head on November 6, with the winner representing Western Zone in round four of the competition.
Cowra captain Nick Berry identified Parkes’ bowling and fielding as the main difference between the two sides on Sunday.
“I think today they showed the areas they outplay us. All six of their bowlers bowled consistently and the fieldsmen backed them up, they saved a lot of runs,” Berry said. “I think we can quite easily get better, it’s not difficult to improve the sort of stuff we need to.”
Electing to bat first, Cowra immediately faced pressure from Parkes opening bowlers Phil Dunford (1-7) and Myles Smith (1-19), and the first wicket fell without a run being scored.
While Parkes bowlers continued to toil, Nick Berry (48) and Peter Guthrie (41) formed a gutsy 100-run second wicket partnership through the opening two sessions.
Wickets tumbled during the final 16 overs, resulting in Cowra ending its innings at 8-152.
Greg Garlick (22) the other batsman to record double figures.
In reply, left-arm quick Jacob McNaught gave Cowra the perfect start registering two early wickets.
Tim Berry was introduced and made an immediate impact claiming two scalps within his first two overs, and giving Cowra the ascendancy with Parkes 4-55.
Parkes showed resistance in the middle order, a 57-run fifth wicket partnership between Jacob Harvey (53n.o) and Phil Dunford (17) setting up the successful chase, while Blake Smith remained 26 not out.
“It’s disappointing that’s it now for the knockout but we get a chance now to go back to club cricket and try and improve. Grinsted Cup is our next challenge,” he added.
In Saturday match at Orange, Cowra successfully defended 217. Tim Berry recorded figures of 5-26 (10) while Nick Berry (51) and Conor Crook (45) top scored.
Round one, Saturday October 22
Cowra 217 (N Berry 51, C Crook 45; D Kennewell 3-51) defeat Orange 165 (R Venner 65, M Hannelly 25; T Berry 5-26).
Round two, Sunday October 23
Cowra 8-152 (N Berry 48, P Guthrie 41; A Heraghty 2-30) defeated by Parkes 5-153 (J Harvy 53 n.o, B Smith 26 n.o; T Berry 2-20)