Thomas Nelson impressed in his first match as captain of Dubbo’s Brewery Shield on Sunday, helping keep the premiers’ hopes of defending its title alive.
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In what, surprisingly, was Dubbo’s first Brewery Shield win of the season, the in-form Nelson made 56 not out to guide his side to victory over Nyngan after his bowling attack had earlier decimated the visitors at No. 2 Oval.
The Dubbo quicks took nine of the 10 Nyngan wickets, Dale O’Donnell (3/26) and Sam Knaggs (3/2) destroying the tail after Bailey Edmunds (2/24) and James Hughes (1/10 from 10) had done the job with the new ball.
Edmunds removed the dangerous Toby Miles (11) early on while it was O’Donnell who took the big wicket of Nyngan’s key man Tim Smith for just 13.
Opening at Alan Glenton top-scored for Nyngan with 31 while the other wicket-taker for Dubbo was spinner Tom Barber (1/43).
While Nyngan was desperate for early wickets, Dubbo opener Angus Norton and Tom Coady knuckled down and added 48 for the first wicket before the latter departed for 21.
Norton also fell for 21 but Nelson, captaining in place of injured regulars Matt Ellis and Ben Knaggs, then combined well with Tom Atlee.
The young skipper finished unbeaten on 56 while Atlee made 30 not as Dubbo reached the target with ease.
Terrence Ryan took both Dubbo wickets and finished with 2/43 from five overs.
Dubbo now has just one regular season match left and it will decide whether the side plays finals or not.
Ellis, out with a hamstring injury, is in doubt for the February 25 trip to Cobar. The winner of that match will finish third and play finals while the season is over the loser.
Wellington and Narromine are guaranteed to finish in the top two.