Second graders fall short in big run chase

A target of 202 proved well beyond reach of Gunnedah’s second grade cricketers last Saturday, as City United won by 66 runs at Riverside 5.

City United overcame a mid-innings slump to pass 200 in its 40 overs, before Gunnedah began very slowly and could not recover sufficiently despite some handy batting from Thomas Swain and Mitch Rolinson.

Earlier, there was some fine bowling from Gunnedah duo Jayden Winsor and Jonah Cameron.

Cameron broke the 47-run opening partnership as Trent Winsor held a catch from the final ball of the tenth over, and then Gunnedah had the upper hand for a while as City United faltered to 6-105 in the 24th over.

A 59-run partnership turned the momentum back City United’s way before Daniel Williams was run out for 30, and the next wicket fell at 183 as Muhammad Faizan Karamat fell for 48 off 45 balls.

William Davis faced seven balls in the closing stages – including a wide – and struck three boundaries before the ninth wicket fell with the total on 199. Two runs from the penultimate delivery took City United’s total beyond 200.

Jayden Winsor finished with 3-18 from eight overs while Cameron had 1-20 from six.

Only three runs were on the board when Gunnedah lost its first wicket from the final ball of the fifth over, and only two more runs were added when the next wicket fell in the seventh over. Swain top-scored with 30 at first drop, but the total was only 49 when he was the fourth wicket to fall before the team crumbled to 9-90.

A final wicket stand of 45 added a modicum of respectability to the total, with Rolinson hammering 27 off 22 balls while Trent Winsor scored a patient six not out from 26 balls in a show of tail-end resistance.

Interestingly only one six was hit in City United’s innings, before Gunnedah’s innings included five hits over the boundary.

City United 9-201 (Muhammad Faizan Karamat 48; Jayden Winsor 3-18) defeated Gunnedah 135 (Thomas Swain 30; Muhammad Faizan Karamat and Archer Starr 2-13) by 66 runs.