Two of Cowra’s bowlers were on a hat trick at one stage of the team’s defence of the coveted Grinsted Cup against Molong in Cowra on Sunday.
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Played on a sticky wicket after Friday’s storm Molong were sent in to bat first in the match played at Twigg Oval after Cowra won the toss.
The visitors made a solid start with openers Heath and Frazer both reaching the twenties before losing their wickets.
Heath was the first to go when Pete Guthrie took a catch off the bowling of Josh Carmody after reaching 24.
This brought Nigel Brazier to the crease who proved the real danger man to the Cowra side, going on to star with the bat for the visitors.
Brazier recorded a fine 52 before he was caught by Josh Carmody off the bowling of Brendan Traves.
His dismissal was the beginning of the end for the Molong side.
While Brendan Traves picked up the wicket of Brazier it was his brother Nick and Mick Curtale who did the damage with the ball and then later with the bat for Cowra.
Nick Traves bowled a great spell for the home side picking up a further three scalps, dismissing Dylan Wilson, Ed Twiss and Les Hoppa in the Molong middle order to finish the match with the figures of 4-14 off his 11 overs which included four maidens.
At one stage he was on a hat trick after the dismissals of Twiss and Wilson with consecutive deliveries.
Michael Curtale found himself in a similar situation, also looking for a hat trick after taking wickets with consecutive balls after bringing himself on to clean up the Molong tail.
Curtale’s scalps were Tim Milne (7), Luke Osborn (0) and Stu Brisbane (0) as Molong crumbled to be all out for 129 in the 42nd over.
Curtale bowled just 17 balls for his three wickets costing his side just two runs, contributing to a fine all round performance from the Cowra bowlers.
Josh Carmody, Scott Wilson and Brendan Traves took a wicket each with Ben Houghton the only bowler not to take a wicket.
Chasing just 130 for victory Cowra openers Sam Long and Peter Guthrie had no trouble reaching double figures before Guthrie, who was the star with the bat last week, out for 15 with the Cowra score on 25.
Unfortunately for Molong this brought Curtale to the crease.
Curtale was obviously not content with his contribution with the ball and took the Molong attack apart.
Young Sam Long was merely a spectator for the next 80 runs as Curtale gave the Molong side a batting lesson.
On his way to 76 Curtale struck five sixes and five fours as he helped himself to the Molong attack.
He was eventually out off the bowling of Wilson.
Josh Carmody was out without Cowra troubling scorer before Tom Thaux (16) and Greg Garlick (4) carried their bats to ensure Cowra retained the Grinsted Cup in a relatively comfortable victory.
Cowra is scheduled to defend the cup for the third time this Sunday when they take on Condobolin in Cowra.
Grinsted Draw
Round 4 November 25: Cup holder vs Young.
Round 5: December 2: Cup holder vs Forbes.
Round 6: December 18: Cup holder vs Parkes.
The cup will then be contested on February 10, February 24 and March 3 with the challengers to be determined by results between now and the February 10 clash.
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