A RELENTLESS showing with the ball and a destructive display of power-hitting from Tim Armstrong has fired the Orana Outlaws into the Plan B Regional Bash semi-finals.
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The Outlaws will now play in the finals day at the Sydney Cricket Ground early next year after crushing the Illawarra Flames by nine wickets at Bathurst's George Park 2 on Sunday.
The win was set-up early as the Orana side produced a brilliant performance in the field to restrict the Flames, featuring Tuross Head's Rhys Voysey, to 9-117 from their 20 overs.
Marquee man Armstrong then took over.
Armstrong, the Dubbo junior who now plays with Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, dominated the run chase on the way to making an outstanding 63 from 33 balls.
The former Australian junior representative and Big Bash League player belted seven fours and four sixes in his knock and while he fell before the target was reached, Ben Wheeler (32 off 29) and Charlie Kempston (18 off 11) cruised to secure the nine-wicket win inside 13 overs.
And, after seeing what the Outlaws have to offer, Armstrong fired a warning to the rest of the competition.
"We were probably in second gear today," the former Western Zone junior said.
"You didn't see the best of us but we did what we needed to do.
"Young Ben Wheeler looked good and someone like Mitch (Bower) didn't need to bat so I reckon we've got the stock (to make an impact in finals)."
While the performance in the early overs was vital on a slightly slower Bathurst pitch, Armstrong felt the Illawarra batsmen never showed the intent required in Twenty20 cricket.
The constant pressure made that difficult, as Ben Strachan did the damage with the new ball and took 2-17 from his four overs.
Mat Skinner (1-24) and Ben Knaggs (1-23) continued the seam attack and kept the pressure on in the middle overs before Steve Skinner (3-21) ripped through the lower order.
Mudgee junior and Illawarra captain Mitch Hearn made 24 not out for his side - before taking the Flames only wicket (1-13).
As the chase began, Armstrong dominated the strike and soon took on the Illawarra attack.
"You just take that first half-dozen balls to assess things and we knew the wicket was a bit slower so it was nothing too silly, too soon but then you could free the arms up," he said.
When Armstrong attacked he did so with real power and it set-up the commanding win, one Armstrong savoured alongside some of his former teammates.
"I played a lot with Mitch and guys like Jason Ryan but I don't get back much so I haven't seen a lot of them in the last decade," he said.
"It was good to get back out with a Dubbo shirt on."
Dates for the finals day haven't been set yet but Armstrong is hopeful he'll be available for the Outlaws' first trip to the SCG since the 2017-18 season.
Defending champions Lake Mac Attack, the ACT Aces, and the Newcastle Blasters are the other finalists.
The Outlaws women also defeated Illawarra on Sunday to secure their passage to the SCG as well.
The women's win was one highlighted by top performances from captain Kira Churchland and Julie Muir.
Churchland made 51 not out from 41 balls to get her side to 7-102 and that proved enough as a sensational spell from Muir saw the Flames knocked over for 91.
Muir was the star of the show for the Outlaws and finished with 5-14 from 3.5 overs.
Standouts for the Flames in the loss were Kate Lea (28), Naomi Woods (1-13) and Sophie Heath (1-13).
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
