AFTER a stellar start to their Royal Hotel Cup campaign, Lithgow came crashing back to earth at Orange last Friday night.
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A man-of-the-match showing from Ant Spruce inspired his CYMS side to a comfortable, 34-run victory over the powerhouse Lithgow Lightning in its Royal Hotel Cup opener at Wade Park on Friday night.
Spruce, an always reliable middle-order bat and part-time tweaker, notched an unbeaten half-ton from five as the green and golds piled on 5-152 from their 20 overs, before taking two wickets as well to help restrict the Lightning to 9-118 in reply.
Batting first, stand-in skipper Matt Baker (3) and marquee player Mick Delaney (0) departed early to the leave the green and golds struggling at 2-6, but youngster Tom Belmonte (21) and Gavin Bridge (28) added 50 for the third wicket, before Spruce entered the fray.
He notched up 58 not out to propel CYMS to 5-152. Michael Gant was Lithgow’s best bowler, taking 3-23.
The Lightning didn’t start well, losing hard-hitting opener Ryan Gurney (4) early, but Brett Sheehan (34) and Dallas Tilley (16) added 44 for the second scalp to give Lithgow a sniff.
Through the middle overs of their chase Joel Gurney (21) and Gant (13) did their best to keep the scoreboard ticking over but it wasn’t enough as CYMS stormed to victory.
