Ben Strachan produced one of the toughest spells seen in the RSL-Whitney Cup in some time on Saturday but not even he could stop a magnificent Brad Cox from giving RSL-Colts day one bragging rights.
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After consistently playing an anchor role for Colts and regularly making half centuries, Cox went on with it against CYMS at No. 1 Oval and made a brilliant 159.
His battle with Strachan was one of the highlights, with the Cougars quick bowling unchanged from one end all day and finishing with the standout figures of 7/111 from 37 overs.
“In that situation we needed someone to stay otherwise we could have been all out quite quickly,” Cox said, his side was 5/109 at one stage.
“Especially with the way Ben Strachan was bowling, he could have wrapped up that tail quickly so it was important I stayed there.
“It was certainly one of the better knocks in the last couple of years. If you go back five or 10 years I was nearly getting one or two a season but there hasn’t been too many big scores last few years.”
Cox said Strachan bowled “particularly well” on a pitch that offered pace and some movement for bowlers all day.
Strachan made the most of that early, knocking over Wes Giddings (4), Tim Cox (15), Greg Buckley (23) and Jason Ryan (1).
Cox and Chris Morton then produced a vital partnership, the latter being particularly aggressive while Cox showed plenty of patience while keeping things ticking over.
Morton, who took 20 off one Brock Larance over, eventually became Strachan’s fifth victim when he was bowled for 51 with the score at 178.
Cox soon reached his triple figures and with stumps looming he started to lift the run-rate.
He cleared the ropes on four occasions before being the last man out, bowled by Lachlan Strachan with the score just short of 300.
“We probably could have scored a bit more but we just kept losing wickets,” he said.
“Sticks (Morton) and I had one partnership but when you keep losing wickets it’s harder. We were about 5/100 so if we were offered a score around 300 then we would have taken it every day of the week.”
CYMS then had to negotiate one over, and Dave McAlister did just that. The Cougars finished at 0/4.
“We’re certainly playing reasonable cricket without setting the world on fire,” Cox said, before looking at the current top three.
“Hopefully the bowlers can do a job (next week) because it’s pretty tight between us, Souths and Rugby.
“Anyone can win it.”
McAlister (2 not out) will resume with Brock Larance (0 not out) next week.
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.
