Despite losing to the Bowral Blues ‘Sky’ side at Centennial Oval on Saturday, the Royals put on a show-stopping performance with the bat during the much-anticipated derby encounter and fell just six runs short of victory.

Batting first, the Skies played smartly to achieve 215 runs at the end of their 30-over innings.

Nick Colgan and Willoughby Watson lead the way, both retiring at the compulsory cut-off of 30 runs, while Judah Wright and Harry Mattick scored 25 each. 

The Royals’ Liam Bayliss was best with the ball, managing 2-4 off three overs.

Jack Baldwin also took two wickets.

The “Blues Brothers” Liam and Mitchell Bayliss and Jack Baldwin then combined to super-charge the Royals’ run campaign.

With all three retiring on 30 and with plenty of overs left, each was entitled to return to the crease.

With that opportunity they slammed a melody of fours and sixes, Mitch Bayliss top-scoring with 58 and Liam Bayliss and Jack Baldwin hitting 55 and 46 respectively.

Matt Colgan was pivotal for the Skies bowling attack, taking two wickets for 17 runs off three overs.

It was a make-or- break moment when Jack McCallum found himself under a Liam Bayliss high-hit, and when he snatched the catch the Skies bagged the match. The players of the match were Nick Colgan and Liam Bayliss.

Meanwhile in the afternoon, the Bowral Blues seconds side won the toss and batted first in their two-day match against Bowral at Centennial Park, finishing their 40-over innings with 230 runs.

Michael Heineckie lead with 59 while Nick Bell smashed 39, including 30 off the final over of the innings.

Bowral put on 181 runs in reply, with Bowral Blues bowler Brett McCauley doing plenty of damage with five wickets for 31 runs of ten overs.

The match resumes at Centennial Park next Saturday.

The Bowral Blues thirds enjoyed a win over a young Moss Vale side at Taylor Oval New Berrima.

With the Blues losing the toss and bowling first, Liam Bayliss tore Mossy’s top order apart with three wickets for ten runs off two overs.

Josh Carroll-Fajada chimed in with two for five off three, while Mitch Bayliss ended Mossy’s innings with a wicket off just one delivery. Mossy were all out for 85.

The Blues chased the total down in the 22nd to hold their second place spot on the competition ladder.

The match was played in great spirit.

​- Matt Watson, Bowral Blues Cricket Club