Father-son duos shine in fourth grade cricket

By LIAM HAUSER

A splendid all-round display from Paddy Paul inspired Gunnedah to a 25-run victory against City United at Carroll Community Ground last Saturday in round one of the Tamworth District Cricket Association (TDCA) fourth grade competition.

Paul top-scored as Gunnedah managed 144 runs for the loss of nine wickets in its 40 overs, before he had the best bowling figures as City United was dismissed in 35.2 overs.

Paul was among four father-and-son combinations in the Gunnedah team, while the others were Andrew and Angus Johns, Bruce and Julian Hockings, and Daniel and Edward Martin.

Paul opened the batting with his son Harry, with the senior player scoring 47 in a partnership of 59 before he was first out.

Gunnedah stumbled to 3-75 before a 32-run partnership featuring the Johns duo was followed by a sharp collapse of six wickets for 12 runs.

The unbroken final wicket partnership of 25 proved to be the difference between the two teams in the final washup, thanks to an unconquered 24 from Matthew Hannay at number 11.

Matthew Robson was City United’s standout bowler with four wickets.

Lachlan King took a wicket before City United’s total reached double figures, and then the score progressed to 1-31 before Jonah Cameron and Julian Hockings made inroads as the Tamworth team sank to 5-47.

Ben and Hudson France revived City United’s fortunes with a 44-run partnership, before Paddy Paul tilted the balance Gunnedah’s way as he had Ben France caught by Angus Johns.

The total passed 100 before Julian Hockings struck again, and then the total moved to 7-115 before Paddy Paul mopped up the tail.

Paul’s second wicket came when an appeal for lbw was upheld, and his third wicket came when his son held a catch before the senior Paul finished the match with a catch off his own bowling.

This Saturday, Gunnedah’s fourth graders return to Carroll where they take on South Tamworth.

Gunnedah 9-144 (Paddy Paul 47, Andrew Johns 33; Matthew Robson 4-22, Pavan kumar Vadde 2-15) defeated City United 119 (Ben France 36; Paddy Paul 4-13, Jonah Cameron 3-9) by 25 runs.