THE FRAGILITY of CYMS batting when Jaspal Bansal and Ben Strachan don't fire was exposed on Saturday as Newtown scored a six-wicket win to keep their slight Whitney Cup finals hopes alive.
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The competition's leading run-scorer, Bansal made his first duck of the season and Strachan just 23 as the Cougars were bundled out for just 97 at No.2 Oval.
In reply Newtown lost four wickets but a solid 53 not out from opener Wayne Dunlop helped them to an easy win.
Mat Skinner and Ben Patterson got Newtown off to a good start with the ball, with Skinner running out Adam Wells (12) before trapping Bansal lbw in the same over to leave CYMS 2/27.
Harry Brennan (0) followed shortly after, cleaned up by Patterson before the young paceman had Dave Mc Alister (11) caught behind and the Cougars were 4/29.
Strachan's innings was the only real high point for CYMS, whose tailed was exposed by the bowling of Craig Pettit, who finished with 5/20 off 7.2 overs.
With the willow in hand it was Dunlop who led the way, however there were a few scary moments for the Tigers, who lost Tetaan Henning (7), Steve Skinner (12) and Mat Skinner (2) cheaply to the bowling of Lachlan Strachan to be 3/49.
But a 43-run stand between Dunlop and Dan French (13) guided Newtown to within six runs of victory and it was Kel Blackett (2no) who was with Dunlop when the target was reached.
Lachlan Strachan finished with 3/18 off his eight overs to be cleary the best of the CYMS bowlers while his older brother Ben Strachan bowled tightly but was seen off by the Newtown batsmen, finishing with 0/17 off his spell of eight overs.
