Carter’s Pharmacy are premiers of the 2023 Gunnedah Premier League T20 competition after accounting for Rhazzad Concreting by 16 runs last Friday evening.
Batting first, Carter’s Pharmacy were dynamic in the latter stages of their innings to set a competitive total of 7/113 off their 20 overs.
Justin Carter and Dom Barnes began briskly for Carter’s Pharmacy, until on 25 when Barnes (12 runs) was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Rhyce Kliendienst.
Keaton Walters joined Carter and they put on 19 runs in four overs until Walters was caught off the bowling of Jonah Cameron for nine, leaving the score delicately poised at 2/52.
That triggered a mini collapse for Carter’s Pharmacy and despite Blake Small smacking a six for his first scoring shot, crucially, he was run out to leave his side at 3/56, which then became 4/56 when Carter was caught off the bowling off Jono Crowe.
The innings was heading from bad to worse for Carter’s Pharmacy, which lost a further three wickets and was in danger of being dismissed before their allotted 20 overs at 7/66 in the 13th over.
Will Ford had other intentions though, counter-attacking for Carter’s Pharmacy and thanks largely to his 31 not out that included two sixes, he was able to resurrect the innings, boosting the total above 100 to finish 8/113 after their 20 overs.
Best of the bowling for Rhazzad Concreting were paceman Jono Crowe and off spinner Ben Middlebrook – both snaring the exact figures of 2/13 off their respective four overs.
Rhazzad were cruising in their run chase off the back of openers Andrew Osmond and Middlebrook, who took the attack to the Carter’s Pharmacy bowlers. The side looked to have the game well within its grasp of victory.
Osmond was the main aggressor, peeling off two boundaries and two sixes in his 29, but in the fifth over was dismissed, caught off the bowling of Jacob Price, but his innings gave Rhazzad the perfect impetus in their run chase at 1/42.
Darrin Cameron blasted two fours but his attack was cut short by Blake Small and when Price had his second victim in Mitch Swain. Carter’s Pharmacy dragged the momentum back in their favour to reduce Rhazzad to 3/59 after 10 overs.
The run rate was not an issue for Rhazzad, but Carter’s Pharmacy continued to take vital wickets and the run out of Middlebrook for 17 all but signalled the end of the chase.
Rhazzad’s innings in the middle overs collapsed to lose a stunning 3/2 and at 6/74 after the 15th over, Carter’s Pharmacy wrestled the momentum back in their favour through their wicket-taking ability.
A quick 18-run stand between Josh Langdon and Carter McIlveen saw Rhazzad Concreting with one last dash at the target of 114, but ultimately Carter’s Pharmacy took the wicket of Langdon to end their all too brief partnership and from there were able to close the match out.
Although batting out the 20 overs, Rhazzad Concreting were left stranded at 7/97, ultimately handing Carter’s Pharmacy victory, formed off the back of multiple wicket takers in Jacob Price who took 2/12 and Blake Small taking 2/16 off their four overs for Carter’s Pharmacy.
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