BATHURST'S bid to take out the weekend's Western Zone Under 18s Carnival was thwarted by a spirited middle order fight back from Orange on Sunday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Having thumped the Chairman's XI side by 10 wickets only a day earlier Bathurst entered the final against Orange high on confidence.
Neither team was short of motivation, knowing that strong showings could lead to a place in the Western representative squad.
An in-form Cooper Brien led the way with 64 runs to help Bathurst post 179, and the reply appeared dire for Orange at 6-74.
But from that point on it was the two Harrys - May (56) and West (46 not out) - who crafted an inspired 96 run partnership to send Orange to what looked an unlikely victory earlier in the day.
Orange caught the total with three wickets and five overs still in hand.
The partnership was one of several brilliant achievements across the weekend's games, where a couple of players all but assured themselves of a place in the Western squad.
Hugh Middleton was unstoppable on the Morse Park turf, belting 132 in Saturday's win over Dubbo and backing that up with 4-19 off 10 overs in the game against Bathurst.
Dubbo's Ben Wheeler scored 100 not out in the third place playoff victory against the Chairmain's XI on Sunday, bringing up his ton with the second last scoring shot of the game.
Bathurst opening bastmen Bailey Brien and Hamish Siegert hit unbeaten knocks of 88 and 74 respectively to win Saturday's opener against the Chairman's XI, while on the opposing side Lachie Endacott stood out with his 77 not out.
Cowra's Mac Webster, Mikey McNamara, Darcy Callaghan and Emerson Baratto all featured in the Chairman's XI side.
Bathurst has dominated the representative team in recent years though it will be interesting to see if Sunday's loss will factor into player selections.
The final makeup of the Western Zone Under 18s team isn't expected to be known until later this week.
READ ALSO:
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
