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ORANGE has failed by 0.02 to qualify for the Mitchell under 21 final despite a 94-run win over Blue Mountains at Jack Brabham 3 yesterday.
Orange went into the deferred match knowing it could draw level with second placed Mudgee on points but having to improve its quotient sufficiently to meet Bathurst in the final.
Orange achieved the first aim but failed narrowly with the second.
Orange started the match with a quotient of 0.64 and after scoring 225 and bowling a 10-man Blue Mountains side out for 131 the figure rose to 0.84 - agonisingly short of Mudgee's 0.86 after four rounds.
Orange will regret batting only 43 of their allotted 50 overs yesterday.
Number three Steve Laybutt was the mainstay of the innings with 61, while Wes Roweth added 27, opener Michael Walker 22 and Rob Lofaro 20.
Roweth completed a good match with 2-18 from seven overs, Matt Baker captured 3-33 from eight overs and spinner Brad Wright, who took the new ball with Roweth, chipped in with 2-29 from 10 overs.
Orange lost its first two matches to Mudgee and Bathurst before beating Lithgow and Blue Mountains.
Bathurst is scheduled to host the final against Mudgee next Sunday but the game may be pushed back to March 2 because both sides have players involved in the Mitchell under 16 side that meets Lachlan next Sunday in Bathurst. Mitchell also plays Lachlan in under 12s and 14s in Bathurst.
