First graders hold on for tense triumph

Gunnedah’s first graders secured a spine-tingling five-run triumph in last Saturday’s cricket clash with South Tamworth at Wolseley Park.

The hosts were dismissed for 121 in 34.5 overs before the visitors were bowled out in 32.3 overs following many pendulum swings.

Several catches were dropped during the run chase, but some reckless batting ultimately cost South Tamworth dearly.

Sam Doubleday top-scored for the victors with 24 before he was one of three Gunnedah bowlers to capture three wickets, while Izaak Merlehan captured one wicket and was Gunnedah’s most economical bowler.

Doubleday battled a knee injury while Justin Carter was sidelined, and Gunnedah welcomed back Merlehan and captain Andy Mack after they missed the previous Saturday’s eight-wicket loss to City United.

A series of wides enabled Gunnedah to reach 0-10 in the first over, and another 13 runs were added before Kyle Gallen was caught in the covers from the final ball of the fourth over.

The second wicket partnership produced 35 runs before Doubleday was also caught at cover, and then two wickets fell at 61.

Hamish George’s first delivery breached Merlehan’s defence and rattled the stumps, before a brilliant yorker from Charlie Dawe uprooted one of Mack’s stumps.

Keaton Walters was caught in the gully off a leading edge before Ash White was the third Gunnedah player to hit a catch into the covers.

Twenty-one runs were added for the seventh wicket before Gunnedah lost its final four wickets for 14 runs with Richard Avendano, Ateeq-ur Rahman, Braith Winsor and Nick Herring lofting catches on the on side.

South Tamworth also lost its first wicket at 23, when Winsor held a catch with the wicketkeeping gloves.

The visiting team slid from 1-41 to 4-43 as an lbw was followed by a catch at cover-point and a catch at cover.

Several catches were put down during a 27-run partnership, before Mack held a chance at mid-off. Dan Lawrence clouted the next ball for four, and was dropped from the following delivery.

South Tamworth’s batters chanced their arm, when working the ball around might have been a better option as the run rate was never an issue.

Walters took a catch at long-on off Doubleday, before White made a mess of Dawe’s stumps as the batting side crumbled to 7-84 in the 27th over.

The complexion changed as 15 runs came in the next over, following two sixes from Dan Lawrence.

Another hit over the boundary made the score 7-110, but Lawrence paid the price for another attacking shot from the next ball as he was caught in the deep.

Following a drinks break, Doubleday held a sharp return catch which left South Tamworth 9-112 and needing 10 runs for the final wicket.

The last wicket pair survived the remainder of Doubleday’s and White’s allotted overs, while Merlehan had also bowled out his eight overs.

It was left to Avendano and Rahman to pursue the final wicket, with Avendano conceding two singles before Rahman bowled a wide.

The match ended as Logan Pike attempted a booming drive and was bowled by Rahman, much to the joy and relief of the home side.

Gunnedah 121 (Sam Doubleday 24, Richard Avendano 23; Luke Walker 4-12, Charlie Dawe 2-11) defeated South Tamworth 116 (Dan Lawrence 29; Ateeq-ur Rahman 3-14, Sam Doubleday 3-34, Ash White 3-36) by five runs.