South Wagga’s bowling attack saved their batsmen’s blushes with two big performances at Robertson Oval over the weekend.
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Nathan Cooke and Mitch Sykes led the way as the Blues defended a small total in the Twenty20 against Wagga RSL on Friday and backed it up against Lake Albert on Saturday.
Cooke claimed 3-18 as 9-97 proved to be more than enough in the Twenty20 before snaring four more in the one-day clash as part of the Mumford, Larkins and Rogers Cup clash.
Sykes picked up 3-8 as the Bulldogs were bowled out for 72 with Tim Cameron (30) the only RSL batsman to reach double figures in the loss.
Sykes then chipped in with another wicket with a tidy performance against the premiers.
Captain Jeremy Rowe was thrilled with how they helped the side recover.
“We were disappointed with the batting effort, you have to acknowledge that RSL did a really good job, and while we felt we were up against it we certainly felt we were a big chance if we executed our own plans and fielded well,” Rowe said.
“We were quite exceptional with the ball and Mitch Sykes and Nathan Cooke had absolutely tremendous weekends and it was the same in the field.
“I don’t think we put down a catch in the two days and probably five to 10 runs on both days with quite exceptional fielding and managed to get the get job done with our backs against the wall on Friday night off the back of tremendous bowling and fielding.”
With Cooke and Sykes shining with the ball, teenager Blake Harper stood out with the bat.
He was the mainstay of the Twenty20 performance, scoring an unbeaten 32, before scoring 53 on Saturday.
Harper was part of a 105-run stand with Luke Gerhard (56 not out) to help the Blues finish their 40 overs at 6-186.
Rowe was impressed by how he handled both occasions.
“He’s very mature when it comes to his cricket and not too many things rattle him,” Rowe said.
“If he hadn’t gritted the teeth and made the 30 odd our total clearly would have been in a much worse state.”
It proved to be enough as Cooke ripped through the Bulls attack, taking 4-28, as they were bowled for 117 in the 35th over.
Jesse Hampton’s 19 was the top score as the Bulls slipped further behind the second placed Blues.
However Lake Albert didn’t go home empty handed with wins in second, third and fourth grade ensuring they maintain hold of the Larkins, Mumford and Rogers Cup for another season.
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