CYMS is on the brink of securing a place in the RSL-Whitney Cup finals after producing its best bowling performance of the season on Saturday.
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The weekend couldn't have been much better for the Cougars as they scored a bonus point win over third-placed Newtown while Macquarie, the other side in the finals race, suffered a shock loss to Rugby.
CYMS is now six points clear of Macquarie while they face Rugby and South Dubbo, the bottom two sides in the competition, in the final two rounds.
Saturday's commanding win over Newtown was set-up early with the ball.
The No. 1 Oval pitch offered a little assistance to the bowlers and Bailey Edmunds and Ben O'Donnell took advantage and claimed a wicket each to have Newtown 2/19.
Things didn't get much better from there for Newtown and while Mitch Russo and Mat Skinner made 24 each they were the only Tigers to reach double figures.
The Newtown batsmen barely got a loose ball and Edmunds went on to claim 3/15 while Knaggs, Paddy Nelson, and Lachlan Strachan all claimed two wickets in a standout showing with the ball.
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Knaggs said a huge amount of praise had to go to his new ball bowlers.
"They have one of the major roles," the captain said of Edmunds and O'Donnell.
"They set the standard for the whole innings. Benno bowls tight lines and 'Buzz' (Edmunds) bowls at the pegs and it's always a contest between bat and ball.
"They always play a big role and it showed yesterday. Newtown could never get away and we've bowled well all season but that was probably our best performance."
After such a strong showing with the ball the run chase was a relativity routine one.
Lachlan Strachan (23) and Jake Settree (13) added 33 runs for the first wicket and while Mat and Steve Skinner entered the attack and slowed the scoring, the Cougars still reached the target with more than 11 overs and seven wickets to spare.
Tom Nelson (22 not out) and Tom Barber (16 not out) finished the job for the Cougars and secured an important bonus point, as well.
"With Newtown, Macquarie and us all on similar points it's crucial to get a win at this time of the season," Knaggs said.
"It was an unreal performance. The bowling unit was great and everyone used got a wicket.
"Mat and Steve bowled well (for Newtown) and did what we did but we controlled things pretty well and did it pretty easy."
While CYMS are now well-placed to earn a spot in this season's semi-final, Knaggs knows nothing can be taken for granted.
"Rugby is a good team and you saw what they did to Macquarie so you can't write them off and you can't write off Souths," he said, looking at the final two rounds.
"We took a big step to a semis spot but you can't write off those teams."
It was Lawson Shepherd who stood tall in Rugby's win on Saturday.
The teenage left-arm quick took five wickets as Macquarie's finals hopes were dealt a huge blow.
Shepherd took 5/38 to help roll Macquarie for just 104.
His haul came after Aidan Bennewith (57 not out) and Ben Wheeler (40) had earlier helped Rugby to 7/184.
Macquarie plays third-placed Newtown and Colts, a side with just one loss to its name this season, in the final two rounds.
Colts, meanwhile, continues its charge towards RSL-Whitney Cup glory, with South Dubbo the latest to feel the power of the minor premiers in waiting.
Colts are 29 points clear at the top of the ladder and are assured passage straight through to this season's grand final as they can't be removed from first place with just two rounds remaining.
On Saturday, the men in red defeated Souths by seven wickets.
The all-round quality of the bowling attack again showed as five different bowlers took wickets on the way to knocking over the Hornets for just 98.
Grant Malouf was again the pick of the bunch with 3/27 while Ben Taylor and Mitch Bower claimed two wickets each.
There was little worries in the run chase as the target was reached in the 17th over for the loss of just three wickets.
Chris Morton (32 not out) and Jason Ryan (29 not out) got the job done for Colts.