It might have been a classic Australian summer’s day, but it was two Englishmen who helped RSL-Colts continue its charge up the ladder.
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Buckley held his side’s innings together and hit a textbook one-day century as Colts made 256 and then after a disciplined performance all-round with the ball, Williams grabbed a hat-trick and helped seal a convincing 59-run win.
“It’s brought us closer to that top two,” William said, his side now in the top three for the first time this season.
“We had a bit of a slow start and a loss would have seen a bit of a gap open up between us and the top two so it was good to keep in touch.”
Souths won the toss and opted to bowl at No. 3 and it appeared a shrewd move from captain Mitch Bower when Colts were reduced to 3/50.
Wes Giddings (42) departed soon after but captain Buckley dug in and set about rebuilding things.
“We know we’ve got depth in our lineup so even if we lose a few wickets we know we’ve got batsmen in the middle order who can do a job,” William said.
Buckley kept things ticking over as he went past 50 and then he and Chris Morton dominated the final 10 overs.
In the last 10 or 15 overs he opened up and showed a lot of us how to bat in the final few overs.
- Darrel Williams on Greg Buckley
“Greg held it together really well,” Williams said.
“He just waited for the bad ball and then in the last 10 or 15 overs he opened up and showed a lot of us how to bat in the final few overs because at other times we’ve still been a bit slow.”
Eighty runs were added in the final 10 overs. Buckley finished with 113 while Morton chimed in with 44.
Souths made a solid enough start to the run chase but the Colts bowlers never allowed them to get away.
The required run rate was going past seven but Souths were still a chance with Bower and Henry Railz at the crease.
However, Giddings (2/32) trapped Bower in front for 24 and then Railz found support hard to come by.
The young all-rounder tried his best and reached 85 before being dismissed lbw by Ben Semmler (1/31).
The match was all but over from there but Williams tore through the tail to wrap up the victory.
In his seventh over, the leg-spinner dismissed James Duffy (4) and Angus Norton (8) in consecutive balls before finding the edge Mick McCarthy’s bat to seal a memorable hat-trick.
“I said to the boys I’d got a hat-trick before but it was two balls at the end of one over the one at the start of the next so that’s not quite the same,” Williams said.
“It was a good feeling, especially after Brad Cox was juggling it (hat-trick ball) at first slip so it was a bit heart in mouth but it was good to get it and the win.”
Williams took four wickets in seven balls to finish the match and finish with the figures of 4/38.
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.
