The northern pool may have produced new opposition and new surroundings but the result was similar for Western Zone on day one of the NSW Country Championships at Inverell.
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Western began its title defence in style on Friday, downing North Coastal by an emphatic 109 runs.
Incumbent Australian Country player and Western Zone captain Jordan Moran set up his side’s total of 9/243 with 80 early on before a strong team showing with the ball saw the opposition dismissed for just 134 in reply.
If you lose the first one it’s hard to make the final so it’s crucial to start well.
- Jordan Moran
“These carnivals are almost a knockout format so if you lose the first one it’s hard to make the final so it’s crucial to start well,” Moran said.
“It was a good all-round performance.”
Darrel Williams took 3/35 from seven in his Western debut while Matt Stephen, Will Lindsay and Jackson Coote all struck twice.
North Coastal will rue the decision to send Western in at McCosker Park No. 1 after winning the toss as Moran helped get his side off to a flying start.
Mitch Bower (34) chipped in before Moran’s dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse of 4/14 and at 7/158 things looked precarious.
But the depth of talent in Western came to the fore late as Williams (37) and Ben Patterson (21) hit their side to a more than competitive total.
Daniel Willis was the most successful North Coastal bowler, taking 2/51 from his 10 overs.
“We know if we get in trouble we want to take the game as far as we can,” Moran said.
“At one stage we were seven down but there was 100 balls left so the message was to face those 100 balls.”
Moran said his side’s start with the ball was far from perfect, as new openers Ben Patterson and Matt Stephen struggled with their length early.
But Bathurst’s Stephen soon got things going and claimed two early wickets, including that of danger man Caleb Ziebell.
Things got better from there as Lindsay (2/22) worked through the middle order and Orange seamer Coote (2/17) and Englishman Williams kept the pressure on.
“We were too short (early) and they put it away but the next 31 or so overs you couldn’t fault the bowlers,” Moran said.
“But every game there’s something you can improve on. We’ve set the benchmark pretty after today so to do well tomorrow (Saturday) and against Newcastle we need to keep improving.”
Moran and Western now turn their attention to Saturday game against Central North, the carnival’s host, before a clash with the Newcastle powerhouse on Sunday.
Both games start at 10am.
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.
