Defending premiers Macquarie moved into the RSL-Whitney Cup top three for the first time since round three on Saturday after defeating South Dubbo by six wickets.
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The bonus point victory continued the Blues’ strong start to 2017, three straight wins now recorded, and captain Kieran Brien and his side are well aware wins in the final three rounds will guarantee finals cricket.
Saturday’s win at No. 2 Oval ended up a fairly convincing one as Souths were bowled out for 147 in the 48th over and then the Blues reached the target in the 28th over.
“It just makes turning up that bit more fun,” Brien said of his side’s winning form.
“Everyone is happy and the club is happy and it just carries through. When one side is winning everyone feels good and then your other sides start winning so its a positive for the whole club.”
An outstanding bowling performance set Macquarie on its way, with teenage opener James Hughes taking 3/15 from eight overs.
He struck on the first ball of the match and then picked up the two key wickets of Souths skipper Mitch Bower (29) and Will Lindsay (22).
Every point counts but we’ll just worry about ourselves.
- Keiran Brien
Jeremy Dickson was another standout, taking 3/26 from 10 overs, while Anthony Heraghty chimed in with a tidy 1/27 from 10 with his spinners.
“Jimmy (Hughes) set the match up for us, taking those two big wickets,” Brien said.
“We set a fairly defensive field for most of it and restricted their big shots. There weren’t many boundaries and it was a big effort in the field backing up the bowling.”
There were a few early wobbles in the run chase, with Ed Haylock (4), Nic Cosier (7) and Hamish Smith (11) all falling cheaply but when Jason Green and Heraghty got together that took the match away from the Hornets.
Green’s first three scoring shorts were two fours and a six while Heraghty, who opted to move lower down the order, got off the mark by clearing the ropes.
“Rabs (Heraghty) wanted to drop down the order so opened with Nic and just told the boys to take their time and get us the win,” Brien said.
“But then we had ‘Greeny’ and ‘Rabs’ to lead us home and we knew we’d get it with those two there.”
Heraghty finished the match in style, hitting 19 off a Jack Busch over to end unbeaten on 56 and seal the win.
Green made 46 not out while Adam Wells (1/24), Henry Railz (1/26) and Lindsay (1/27) were the wicket-takers.
The bonus point win has Macquarie sitting third on 33 points, four behind Souths in second and, more importantly, two clear of both CYMS and Newtown.
The season is now entering the final three rounds, which are all two-day matches again.
With more points awarded for a win in the longer format there is plenty to play for but the Blues captain said his side will remain focused.
“Every point counts but we’ll just worry about ourselves,” Brien said. “That’s what we said at the start of this year, if we just worry about ourselves and get the results it will all work out.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
