Depleted Gunnedah third graders fail to set worthy targets in T20s

Gunnedah’s third grade cricketers suffered defeat by a seven-wicket margin in T20 clashes at Chaffey Park last Saturday, while short of players.

A nine-player team was dismissed for 44 against City United, before a 10-player outfit tallied 7-89 against Bective East.

The player shortage occurred despite Gunnedah forfeiting its fourth grade contests at Riverside – also against City United and Bective East.

In the opening contest at Chaffey Park, Harry Paul was the first player dismissed as he was run out while batting with his dad Paddy. Although Paddy was running to the danger end, the fielder threw to the other end and produced a direct hit when having one stump to aim at.

Paddy Paul top-scored with 18 while Lachlan Swain was next best with 10, and Gunnedah’s middle to lower order failed badly as the final five batters tallied only seven runs.

Gunnedah lasted only 12.1 overs, before taking three early wickets.

William Judd hit the second ball of City United’s innings for four but was bowled by Ryan Cooper next ball, and then Paddy Paul broke through with the third ball of the second over.

Paddy Paul also struck in his second over as City United faltered to 3-16, before Hudson Clunas and Connor Lockyer guided the Tamworth team to victory with 12 overs to spare.

Gunnedah was strengthened for the second game with the inclusion of Mitch Rolinson, before Cooper gave the visiting team a flying start.

Cooper cracked two fours in the first over and three fours in the third over, but Harry Paul departed in the second over which was a wicket-maiden.

Following his early boundary hitting, Cooper scored in singles and twos before his dismissal for 41 left Gunnedah 5-56 in the 12th over.

Rolinson scored a useful 18 not out, with Gunnedah losing a wicket to a run-out from the final delivery of the innings.

Although Gunnedah’s total wasn’t big, it was higher than what the first and second graders could muster.

Cooper dismissed Bective East’s openers for single-figure scores before Paddy Paul dismissed Ryan Griffiths without scoring.

There was no more success for Gunnedah as Luke Sevil and Lachlan McColl put on an unbroken partnership which took the hosts to victory with 29 balls to spare.

City United 3-45 (Hudson Clunas 22 not out; Paddy Paul 2-12) defeated Gunnedah 44 (Paddy Paul 18; Darcy Gleeson 3-8, William Davis 2-13) by seven wickets.

Bective East 3-93 (Luke Sevil 37 not out, Lachlan McColl 27 not out; Ryan Cooper 2-16) defeated Gunnedah 7-89 (Ryan Cooper 41; Luke Sevil 2-13) by seven wickets.