BIG BASH: Coro’s Rob Rand smashed a game-high 60 runs as the Cougars eased past Leagues Club in Saturday’s one-dayer.
CORO Cougars’ skipper Haydn Pascoe wouldn’t usually be so happy with getting out for a duck.
But after watching his teammates take the reins in Saturday’s big 129-run one-day win over wooden spooners-elect Leagues Club Panthers, his own failure at the crease is easily forgotten.
The in-form Pascoe was the only Coro player not to score for the ladder leaders - and the only established batsman not to make a start against a hapless Leagues outfit.
The Cougars’ innings was instead steered by the likes of Rob Rand (60) and Shane Hutchinson (34), who together added 61 for the sixth wicket.
Paul Plummer chipped in with a handy 27 while powerful openers Tim Rand (31) and Peter Taprell (22) set the stage for a Coro onslaught in the dead rubber at Exies No.2.
“From my perspective, I’m happy to see us get what we got even though I got nothing,” Pascoe said.
“I’m really, really happy with how our middle order went.”
Taprell took no prisoners at the start of the match, bursting out of the blocks with a massive six to set the tone for the afternoon - but his brash strokeplay was ultimately his undoing. When he was caught out, Pascoe came to the crease - and he didn’t last long, trudging off with Coro 2-26 against the bottom side.
Fortunately the rest of the batting line-up saved the day, and the Cougars were bowled out for 231.
That score was a bridge too far for the Panthers with only top-scorer and opener Craig Burge (35) stubborn enough to stay in the middle for long.
Hutchinson took five wickets while Glen Cox took a pair as Coro enjoyed a perfect last outing with the white ball ahead of next month’s one-day final.