Cootamundra Bulls captain Josh Purtell scored 67 in his sides win.
By Pat Kerin
Cootamundra Ex-Services Bulls continued on their winning way with a convincing over the Temora Bowling Club Tigers on Saturday.
The first of five T20 matches saw the match played at Albert Park and saw the Bulls win the toss and bat, scoring an impressive tally of 5/179.
The Tigers replied with 8/97. With the harvest in full swing around Temora, this certainly affected the Tigers who could only field nine players.
The Bulls best partnership was between opener Brendan Gale and their skipper Josh Purtell.
The pair added 104 runs for the 2nd wicket. Gale was following on from his 50 in the previous round, finished with a fine 53 from 40 balls while Purtell was equally impressive top scoring with 67 from 54 balls.
The icing on the cake for the Bulls came from the big hitting David Garness. Always keen to give the ball a nudge, Garness scored 34 not out from 13 balls.
His knock included 22 runs from five balls from Harrison Starr’s last over. Three sixes and a four.
Despite the last over belting, Starr finished with the best figures for the Tigers, 3/40 from his four overs.
Tom Winkley was the only batsman to reach double figures. Winkley remained 40 not out from 39 balls.
Bowling honours were evenly shared for Bulls with Darren Connell, Matt Berkrey and Koby Godbier all capturing two wickets each.
Out at the Stockinbingal Recreation Ground, the home side were too strong for Boorowa.
The match was the first played on the new synthetic pitch and saw Boorowa bat first scoring 7/104.
The village side ran down the total in the 19th over finishing with 7/107. Boorowa’s innings got away to a great start with openers Matthew Canellis with 38 and Mathew Ackland 26, the pair adding 50 for the first wicket.
Stockinbingal’s captain Nick Holt top scored with 33 not out while Scott Meale made 22. Current Ladder. Note – with this ladder, three sides, the Bulls, Boorowa and Temora have only had one bye, Stockinbingal two byes and the Young Coyotes have already had three byes.
22- Cootamundra Ex-Services Bulls 16- Temora Bowling Club Tigers 10- Young Coyotes 10- Stockinbingal 6- Boorowa Draw for Saturday- Cootamundra Ex-Services Bulls vs Stockinbingal at Albert Park
The Temora Bowling Club Tigers vs Young Coyotes match will be held at at Nixon Park on Friday at 6:30pm. Boorowa bye. The match at Albert Park will be history making for the South West Slopes Cricket League as this is the first time these two sides have played each other.
This has been brought about with Stockinbingal’s elevation to the A grade competition following their convincing win in the last season’s final over the Young side, the Criterion Hotel Gunners.
The Bulls have a great start to the season winning all four matches, while Stockinbingal were wrapped to open their account last Saturday against Boorowa.
