Gunnedah came achingly close to stealing an unlikely victory in a nail-biting under 13 representative cricket contest at Donnelly Fields last Sunday.

Armidale made a competitive total of 8-174 in 40 overs before Gunnedah was dismissed for 170 with four balls to spare, having been one player short during the run chase.

Ed Martin and Kallie Walters produced an impressive lower order partnership to give the hosts a chance of winning, after Armidale had the upper hand.

After choosing to bowl first in the George Denton Shield contest, Gunnedah captured two wickets without a run scored before the pendulum changed as partnerships of 48 and 52 unfolded.

Henry Blomfield scored a gritty 29 off 75 balls at number three, while Jake Simpson found the boundary eight times in his undefeated 59 from just 55 balls.

Martin nabbed 3-16, while fellow opening bowler Harry Langdon was next best with 2-20 as they delivered six overs each.

There was some good fielding from the locals as there were three catches and a run-out, but Gunnedah rued conceding 36 runs in wides and no-balls before Armidale conceded 29 runs from illegitimate bowling.

Gunnedah’s innings also began disastrously as the hosts slumped to 4-16, before captain Marnee Walters led a recovery.

Langdon and Martin continued the revival, before two wickets from successive balls left Gunnedah 7-83 after 24 overs and seemingly on the brink of defeat as only two wickets remained.

Kallie Walters scored 32 off as many balls before departing as the target was eight runs away, and then the match ended when an appeal for lbw was successful.

Martin finished on 55 not out from 90 balls, with six fours.

Armidale 8-174 (Jake Simpson 59 not out; Ed Martin 3-16) defeated Gunnedah 170 (Ed Martin 55 not out, Kallie Walters 32; William Goodare 2-15) by four runs.

Linden Miller at the bowling crease for Gunnedah’s U13 rep cricket team.

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