In the latest chapter of the Brewery Shield Cricket Competition, the Cobar cricket team faced a disheartening defeat against Bourke in an away game.
The match, held in Bourke on Sunday, saw Cobar winning the toss and opting to bat first.
However, what followed was a series of disappointing performances with the bat, setting a low total for Bourke to chase.
Cobar’s opening innings was less than stellar.
Top-order batsmen, including Jade Buckman and Jay Egan, failed to build significant partnerships, succumbing early to Bourke’s disciplined bowling.
Buckman managed only six runs off 28 balls, while Egan showed some resistance with a 16 off 20 deliveries, including four boundaries.
However, Cobar’s middle order couldn’t capitalise on these starts, with players like Tarun Bheemireddy and Jake Harbison falling for single-digit scores.
Phillip Harley emerged as a slight beacon of hope, scoring 20 off 31 balls, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the innings.
Cobar’s entire batting lineup crumbled for a meager 86 runs in just over 26 overs, a sum far below a competitive total.
Bourke’s bowling was spearheaded by Andrew Bell and Colin Lang, who bagged three wickets each, devastating Cobar’s batting order.
In response, Bourke’s batsmen took to the field with confidence. Will Mitchell led the charge with an unbeaten 42 off 50 balls, steering his team towards an easy victory.
Bourke’s batting lineup seemed untroubled by Cobar’s bowling attack, with only Phillip Harley making significant inroads, taking two early wickets before succumbing to injury.
Matthew Attenborough contributed a brisk 21 before being caught but, by then, Bourke was well on its way to victory.
Bourke comfortably reached the target in just under 16 overs, losing only three wickets in the process.
Cobar’s bowling, despite a few economical spells, lacked the penetration needed to defend such a low total.—contributed
