The Cowra Valleys have jumped into second place with a win against Cowra Bowling Club, setting up a weekend clash against the Cambridge Cats in Parkes.
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The match takes the Valleys to four wins and one loss to start the season, with their only loss having come the previous week against league leaders the Royal Colts.
The Valleys, having sent in the Bowling Club to bat, had them struggling at 4/65, dismissing Ross Graham reasonably early for 27 along with Nick Berry for 13.
Jacob McNaught (2/14), Jackson Moody (1/12) and Scott Wilson (1/12) were particularly influential for the Valleys, picking up wickets early and cheaply during the onslaught.
However, a steady 75-run partnership between top scorer Ben Colby (44 not out) and Lachlan Morrison (42 not out), helped get Bowling Club to an eventual total of 5/175 from their innings.
Coming out for the second dig, and with the breeze picking up throughout the afternoon, the Valleys meandered to 2/74 with only a solid opening from skipper Greg Garlick (40 runs) helping to keep things steady.
However, Jacob McNaught (79 not out) was impenetrable with the bat, rotating through a number of partners – including Scott Wilson (12) and Zach Starr (14) – before combining with Ben Houghton to post a winning chase at 6/176.
McNaught said he was happy to be a consistent throughout the duration of the match, contributing with both bat and ball.
“[The aim] is always be there at the end,” McNaught said of his batting, but he was also happy with his two wickets.
“[It was] good to be back bowling again.... To have a good day out is what you really come here for.”
Garlick was ecstatic when talking about McNaught’s performance after the game.
“He bats well under pressure, he’s a class batsman,” Garlick said.
“Whenever he’s scratchy early he seems to go on and get runs and builds into a really good innings.
“We set a good foundation for him, he came out there not under a great deal of pressure.”
Garlick was also relieved to get the win, given it puts them two games clears of the Bowling Club with a Christmas break rapidly approaching.
“Normally we finish quite strong and start slow, so to be in this position early, it’s a real bonus,” he said.
While the Bowling Club have a bye this week, the Valleys will take on the Cambridge Cats this Saturday at Woodward Oval and it’s a contest that Garlick has already got his eye on.
“We want to go over there and test ourselves again next week. This Parkes side will be out for a bit of revenge, we beat them pretty convincingly in the first game of the year.
“We’ve played each other, and we know what to expect.”
