Western Zone rookies cool as in the heat of battle!
YOUNG all-rounder Henry Railz is developing a reputation for his maturity in pressure situations.
After representing NSW schools at the Under 15s Championships with distinction, the South Dubbo batsman impressed senior players and selectors at the weekend. After Western Zone won their first match easily, Henry was thrown into a door-die effort against North Coast on day 2.
Henry was handed the task of settling the innings when all around him were falling. He was joined at 8-72 by Rsl-colts English leg-spinner Darrel Williams needing 33 more for a win. Henry was unflustered, finding the boundary a couple of times and running furiously between wickets as the pair scrambled a famous 2-wicket win.
Henry was 33 not out, Williams 22 not out following a five-wicket haul earlier in the day. Both backed up against Newcastle in the virtual final on Sunday – Williams showing his versatility with a top score of 37 opening the innings, while Henry again carried his bat with 22 against the perennial Country Cricket giants.
Western Zone splits into two next weekend (November 18-19) in Orange when the Central West Wranglers go head to head with defending T20 Big Bash Country Champions, the Orana Outlaws.
That match should draw a bumper crowd for the night match at Wade Park while ACT Aces and the South Coast Crew will join them for a round-robin series on the Saturday.
In a blow to both Western and the Outlaws, wicket-keeper-batsman Jordan Moran has a broken thumb and is in doubt for the pre-christmas matches.
ABOVE: Western Zone 2017/18. Back. Ian Strudwick
(Coach), Will Lindsay, Matt Stephen, Henry Railz, Jackson Coote, Ben Patterson, Greg Nicholls (Mgr), front, Darrel Williams, Mitch Bower, Greg Buckley, Jordan Moran (c), Marty Jeffrey, Ryan Peacock, Jordan Peacock. Photos: courtesy Greg Nicholls, Western Zone