A five wicket haul to Sam McNaught inspired Valleys to their first victory of the season on Saturday, crushing Canowindra by eight wickets.
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McNaught finished with figures of 5-26 including the first four wickets of Canowindra’s innings.
The visitors were reeling at 4-14 before being skittled for 57 with Ben Cole (2-13) and Mick Miller (3-4) the other green and gold bowlers to register wickets.
For Canowindra, Nick Traves (23) was the only batsman to pass 10.
In reply, a quick-fire 26 from Jacob McNaught set up the run chase while opening batsman Greg Garlick (23 not out) remained unbeaten.
It’s the first victory for Valleys and as a result lifts them above Canowindra who are without a win in the opening three weeks.
Elsewhere, Cambridge Cats kept their early form intact, defeating Bowling Club by 31 runs at Woodward Oval.
Batting first, Cats posted 9-189 from their 40 overs courtesy of contributions from Zac Bayliss (31), Anthony Riach (28), Anthony Heraghty (42) and Jacob Harvey (54) at the top of the order.
Al Lovett was the pick of the bowlers for Bowling Club, finished with four wickets picked up during the closing stages of the Cats innings.
Berry Brothers Nick and Tim also had some success, both returning with multiple scalps.
Bowling Club’s run chase was on track after the opening 20 overs when they’d crept along to 1-82.
Nick Berry (41) and Matt Crawley (41) formed a solid platform however a strong of wickets in the next 10 overs left Bowling Club 5-114 after 30 overs.
The lower order showed little resistance as Bowling Club were dismissed by 158, with Heraghty also claiming three wickets.
The result leaves the undefeated Cats at the top of the table after three rounds, while Bowling Club, Parkes Colts and Valleys have one win and Canowindra yet to open their account.
Meanwhile in Orange’s Royal Hotel Cup, Mick Curtale’s Centennials Bulls have announced themselves as Royal Hotel Cup title contenders, and completely justified the pre-tournament hype in the process.
Boasting one of the most powerful line-ups the competition has seen since changing to Twenty20 five seasons ago, the Bulls ran rampant against the Centrals and cruised home by eight wickets.
Chasing Centrals’ 7-121, Bulls’ guns Josh Toole and Mick Curtale went to town early, so much so the Bathurst-based side only needed 12 overs to run the target down.
