Hewitt’s five-wicket haul at championship

The Northern Inland Bolters under 15 side won two of its four remaining matches at the NSW Country Youth Championships last week.

The Bolters squad, which featured several Gunnedah representatives, was running off consecutive losses in the first of four days of competition at Singleton.

Gunnedah bowler Xanthe Hewitt was among the best in a beaten side against Central Coast last Wednesday.

Despite the Bolters falling short by just seven runs, Hewitt bagged five wickets in just four overs to finish with final figures of 5-13.

Even more impressive was that all Hewitt’s wickets fell in succession for the Coast outfit which was clearly rattled by the Gunnedah star’s bowling prowess.

Gunnedah clubmate Marnee Walters also bowled strongly for the Bolters to snare two wickets for figures of 2-16 from four overs.

In more heroics from the Gunnedah representatives, middle-order Bolters’ batswoman Mackenzie Keeler held fast in the second innings. The Gunnedah junior top-scored with 31 runs from 32 balls to lead the Bolters’ run chase but it was not enough as the side finished seven short of its 80-run target by the final over.

The Bolters won its next match the following day with a five-wicket win against North Coast and consolidated its success that afternoon with a 25-run win against Hunter Valley Region Cricket Council (HVRCC).

After the Bolters’ batters posted a target of 90 runs for victory, the bowlers were able to restrict HVRCC to just 6-64 in reply.

Gunnedah bowler Charlette Keeler was among the late wicket takers with top figures of 2-5.

The Bolters team was made up of 12 girls from across the region and was coached by Gunnedah’s Claire and Eddie McGuirk of Gunnedah.