Gunnedah fell away after a promising opening partnership in last Saturday’s clash with Bective East at Riverside, in round three of the Tamworth District Cricket Association (TDCA) first grade season.
Following a three-wicket loss and a washout in the first two rounds, Gunnedah sank to an eight-wicket defeat as a key factor for the club was the large number of absent players.
After Gunnedah skipper Andy Mack won the toss and chose to bat, he and Jye Hicks put on a 52-run opening stand before the team succumbed for just 114 in 37.4 overs.
Hicks departed in the 12th over, before the dismissal of Mack from the final ball of the 14th over proved a severe setback.
The openers made 20s but none of their teammates could score more than 15, while Alistair Hillard showed the most resistance as he made 12 from 55 balls.
All six Bective East bowlers shared the wickets, with Ben Taylor the pick as he captured 3-19 from eight overs while the hosts conceded 18 runs in wides.
Abel Carney scored 40 off 38 balls while opening partner Lachlan Clydsdale made 20 off 55 for Bective East, before Peter McCormack dismissed them both as the score went from 0-62 to 2-71.
Adam Jones struck an unbeaten 36 from just 22 balls, and finished the match in style as he cleared the boundary with the second delivery of the 23rd over.
This Saturday, Gunnedah returns home to Wolseley Park for the start of a two-day match against City United.
Bective East 2-116 (Abel Carney 40, Adam Jones 36 not out; Peter McCormack 2-20) defeated Gunnedah 114 (Jye Hicks 25, Andy Mack 23; Ben Taylor 3-19, Forbes Boydell 2-21) by eight wickets.
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