Jacob Hill has captained Dubbo before in the absence of regular leaders but it still came as a bit of a surprise when he got given the role again this week.
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With Mat Skinner recovering after recent surgery and Mitch Bower unavailable, Hill will be captain for his side's Western Zone Premier League final round meeting with Cowra on Sunday.
"It's something I'm happy to do, as long as we come away with the win," Hill laughed.
"I did it against Parkes and it wasn't too bad but thought there might be a couple of blokes who would get it before me."
The situation is simple for Dubbo on Sunday as a win over Cowra will be enough to secure hosting rights for the grand final the following week.
A loss would likely mean the final being played at Bathurst given Jameel Qureshi's men are overwhelming favourites to defeat the winless Mid West this weekend.
"That's all there is to it," Hill said.
"We get the win and it should be enough."
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Dubbo sits unbeaten at the top of the ladder, having three wins and one rain-forced draw to its name.
While the bowling performances have been impressive - rolling Mid West for 43 was a highlight - the batting effort has set the tone this season.
While there was a wobble against Parkes the Dubbo lineup piled on 9/285 against Mid West before racing to the target or 180 for the loss of just one wicket last time out against Orange.
Ben Wheeler, a teammate of Hill at club side Rugby, has led the way and is currently more than 100 runs clear at the top of the WZPL run-scoring charts while his average is just a tick under 95.
"Ben Wheeler's been banging them in rep," Hill said.
"We've been giving him a bit of a hard time because he's not doing it for Rugby but the whole lineup is stacked.
The whole lineup is stacked.
- Jacob Hill on Dubbo's batting
"We've got Lee Price batting 10 or 11 and he opens for Newtown. Ben Knaggs is down there too so it's blokes who bat in the top four (for their club sides)."
Anthony Atlee comes in for Bower and it is another golden opportunity for the RSL-Colts teenager after he was also recently called-up for the Orana Outlaws' Plan B Regional Bash semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He's likely to feature towards the top of a batting lineup around Wheeler, Charlie Kempston, Tom Coady, Thomas Nelson, Hill, and Marty Jeffrey.
Bailey Edmunds and Knaggs, the leading wicket-takers for Dubbo this season with seven each, will again be key with the ball while Price, Ben Semmler and Steve Skinner are the other main strike weapons.
The Cowra side for the match is a young one but captain Mick Curtale remains one of the most dangerous batsmen in the competition.
Cowra needs a big win over Dubbo and a Bathurst loss to Mid West to be any chance of making this season's decider.
"We've got nothing to lose, it's Dubbo that's got everything to lose, so hopefully everyone chips in on Sunday," Curtale said.
"We just need to turn up and play to the best of our ability, if it's not good enough then it's not good enough.
"Someone would have to have a day out with the bat and with the ball and then we'd still need a miracle. But if you don't buy a ticket you can't win."
Play starts at 10am at Holman Oval.
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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.
