DUBBO bounced back from a shock loss to Nyngan by thumping Wellington at No.2 Oval on Sunday.
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Rugby's Mitch Bower and RSL-Colts skipper Chris Morton filled in for Wellington, but it was Bower's teammate Aidan Bennewith that stole the show with a breathtaking innings.
Bennewith belted eight sixes in his unbeaten 107 as Dubbo made 5-258 after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Souths pair Jack Wells (36) and Adam Carr (33) got the ball rolling for the home side with a 64-run opening stand before Dan French added 30 following Wells' dismissal.
When Carr and French both fell it brought Bennewith and skipper Nathan Munro together and the pair batted out the rest of the innings together.
Munro made a polished 45 not out but played second fiddle to his club teammate Bennewith, who made his way from 80 to 100 by going 6, 4, 6, 4 off the bowling of Morton.
Not that he knew that though.
"I think Mick Davis screwed up the scoring and they told me I was getting close so I started taking singles to make sure I got there," Bennewith said with a laugh.
“I’d been having a bit of a hack before that and they were coming out of the middle but I really wanted the hundred.
“I haven’t had a lot of time in the middle with Rugby because our top order has been in good form so I was keen to spend a bit of time in the middle.
“As it turns out I got to the ton having a hack but it doesn’t matter. I got there and we won so that was good.”
When it came time to field it was Tim Cox who got the ball rolling for Dubbo, bowling economically and taking the first wicket of the innings when he had Wellington’s Jason Ryan dismissed for two in the 13th over.
Cox went on to take 1-16 off his 10 overs as he continues his comeback from a leg injury and works his way into peak fitness.
Daniel Horrocks took the vital wickets of Bower (47) and Morton (36) and finished with figures of 3-15 but it was Jacob Hill who starred with the ball.
Hill took the next five wickets and had 5-34 before Bennewith finished off his golden day by bowling Brandon Carter (4) to end the match.
“We were having trouble getting that last wicket so Nath (Munro) threw me the ball and told me to bowl some off-spin,” Bennewith said.
“The day before there was a bit there after the rain but on Sunday it was back to a typically flat Dubbo pitch.
“But I got him in the end and it was good to get a big win like that because we are a young side and after losing to Nyngan we needed to get a win and everyone will take some confidence out of it.”