A late fightback from Gunnedah couldn’t prevent the North Tamworth Redbacks gaining the upper hand at the halfway point of the first grade cricket contest at Riverside 5.

After the game was moved from the No. 1 oval following last Friday’s storm, Gunnedah collapsed to 69 all out before North Tamworth finished on 9-144 last Saturday.

Unless wet weather intervenes, an improved batting display from Gunnedah will be needed for the visiting side to avoid outright defeat on the second and final day this Saturday.

Having lost the toss, Gunnedah stuttered to 2-12 in the ninth over before Justin Carter and Izaak Merlehan sought to steady the ship. They slowly added 20 runs but then the visitors were on the ropes, as Jordan Lewington struck with his first two deliveries to have Gunnedah 4-32 in the 22nd over.

Ash White hit a four and two sixes as he top-scored with 20 at number eight, but resistance was minimal while the run rate remained very low as Gunnedah’s innings lasted 40.5 overs. Jordan Lewington had the most wickets but Harry Lewington was the standout bowler with 3-3 from seven overs.

Harry Lewington was the first North Tamworth batter to depart as he was caught off Lachlan King for 13, while the Redbacks were 13 runs shy of Gunnedah’s total.

North Tamworth had a lead of two runs when the second wicket fell, before the third fell at 108 as opener Franklin Cripps departed for a standout 71.

After being 4-120, the Redbacks sank from 4-130 to 9-133 as Sam Doubleday and Merlehan skittled the middle and lower order before the last wicket pair added 11 runs.

Having taken 7-65 off 19.2 overs in his previous outing, Doubleday claimed 4-27 off 10 last Saturday while Merlehan had 2-9 off eight.

North Tamworth 9-144 (Franklin Cripps 71; Sam Doubleday 4-27, Izaak Merlehan 2-9) leads Gunnedah 69 (Ash White 20; Jordan Lewington 4-28, Harry Lewington 3-3) by 75 runs on the first innings.

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