THE Central West Wranglers are a team stacked with potential game winners but will they come through when the pressure’s on in this weekend’s Regional Bash Thunder Conference carnival at Bathurst?
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The annual Twenty20 tournament, entering its fourth edition, has proven an insurmountable hurdle for the Wranglers but the team will be confident of turning that around during their two games at the Sportsground.
The Wranglers will come up against not only some of the best country cricketers in the state but from across the entire country when they play host to the Illawarra Flames and three-time grand finalists Orana Outlaws.
Central West boasts a team full of Bathurst talents, and no shortage of big hitting power.
Bathurst’s Jameel Qureshi – who is part of the Sunday lineup to take on the Flames – said the limited time of the format allows individual brilliance to shine through with greater luminescence.
“It’s a funny game, Twenty20. All it takes is one person to go off and it can change the whole game,” he said.
“We’ve got some great young players in the side and it will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills.
“I think seeing so many Bathurst players in the team is well deserved. It’s been one of the strongest sides Mitchell has probably seen in the last decade.
“I think everyone in the squad can hold the bat as well.”
The Outlaws have been one of the competition’s leading sides, picking up a 2016-17 title in their current three grand final stretch.
Illawarra won just one of their three pool matches in a tough campaign last season while the Wranglers had all their games rained out.
Qureshi is interested to see how the Wranglers handle Illawarra – an opponent they’ve never seen before.
“It’s always great to play different players because that helps you learn,” he said.
“You should always be aiming to get better and keep heading in the right direction.”
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Adam Ryan, Ben Mitchell, Nic Broes, Connor Slattery, Ben Parson, Matt Stephen and Tanvir Singh are the other Bathurst players in the Wranglers squad.
The Wranglers face last season’s runner-up Outlaws from 2pm on Saturday before facing the Flames on 1.30pm Sunday.
Outlaws and Flames face off from 9.30am on Sunday.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
