Sport
23 October, 2026
Alcorn leaves Bowral forlorn
One week after this Wally declared Bowral was still the one, Mittagong has reminded me why tipping local cricket is best undertaken quietly.
One week after this Wally declared Bowral was still the one, Mittagong has reminded me why tipping local cricket is best undertaken quietly.
Rob Alcorn’s splendid 120 led Mittagong to a four-wicket win over Bowral at Lackey Park in round two, overcoming a century from Nick Miller in a match that produced enough late wickets to make a comfortable afternoon decidedly uncomfortable.
Bowral made 7/224 from its 45 overs. Mittagong answered with 6/225 in 43 under Duckworth-Lewis conditions, a formula that calculates a winner in rainy conditions. The formula? Who knows!
That tells you the result. It barely begins to explain the afternoon.
Bowral had been 3/32 before Cameron Belshaw and skipper Miller put on 183 for the fourth wicket, taking the visitors to 215 before Miller fell for 101.
Miller’s hundred came from 93 balls, with five fours and six sixes. Belshaw contributed 86 from 100, including four fours and five sixes.
The rest of Bowral’s batting found the going rather less agreeable. Only Conor Murray, with 13, joined the pair in double figures.
Will Torr took 2/27 and Finn O’Connor 2/13, helping Mittagong prevent that enormous partnership from becoming an enormous total.
Then Bowral's thorn, Alcorn went to work.
His 120 from 104 balls included 11 fours and four sixes, while opening partner Will Thomson supplied 63 from 100. Together they took Mittagong to 171 before Thomson was trapped in front by Miller.
At that point, the home side had nine wickets available and 54 runs to find. I had loosened my tie and was ready for refreshments.
Alcorn was bowled by Hayden Willebrand at 193. Harry Mooney went at 194, Torr and Mitchell Logan both fell with the score on 205, and James Keys followed at 211.
My dusty notes reveal Alcorn's knock is his first century since a 1926 match between Bowral and Mittagong, which featured a 12-year-old Don Bradman.
Mittagong had slipped from 0/171 to 6/211. Willebrand finished with 3/41 and Miller added 2/38 to his century as Bowral gave the chase a late fright.
The home side still got there, banking its first win and leaving this Wally's opening-round assessment less than useful.
At Bradman Oval, Hill Top made rather short work of Wingello, winning by eight wickets after dismissing the Tigers for 120.
Wingello’s top order was in considerable bother at 5/39. Sam Harwood accounted for Dale Wellington, Jesse Cao and Oliver Thompson, while Jack Saunders removed Arron Deegan and Grant Pike.
Dylan Maddock supplied the strongest resistance with 29 from 25 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Lee Russell made 20 and Matthew Pike 16, but the Tigers never assembled the substantial partnership they needed.
Stephen McNaught then approached the chase like a man with somewhere else to be.
His 66 from 39 balls featured eight fours and four sixes. That is 56 runs in boundaries, which is an excellent way of reducing unnecessary running.
Mitchell Granger finished unbeaten on 37 as Hill Top reached 2/121 in just 15.3 overs. Mitchell Cook took both wickets.
Two wins from two have Hill Top on top of the first-grade ladder.
Robertson-Burrawang also won by eight wickets, chasing down Moss Vale’s 181 to finish at 2/183.
Luke Stewart gave Moss Vale’s innings substance with 59 from 65 balls, striking six fours and a six. MacKenzie Perry made 27 and Jason Moloney 26.
Joshua Green, however, kept collecting wickets. After losing his keeping gloves, he took 5/26 from nine overs, including a maiden.
Joshua Whitfield gave Robertson-Burrawang an energetic start with 44 from 31 balls, including four sixes.
After his dismissal left the side 2/62, Jack Whitfield and Nicholas Wilson added an unbeaten 121 to settle matters. Wilson finished on 68 and Jack Whitfield on 45. Moss Vale's fielders were last seen having medical checks to confirm whether they have hands.
After two rounds, Hill Top leads on 20 points, with Bowral, Robertson-Burrawang, Mittagong and Wingello all on 12. Moss Vale has four and is still seeking its first win.
This week the '81 Ford Laser will be in top gear to watch Wingello and Mittagong at Welby, Moss Vale and Hill Top at Bradman and Bowral and Robertson at Lackey Park.
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