Thirds crumble in huge run chase

Promising signs from some of Gunnedah’s young cricketers couldn’t mask another horror result for Gunnedah’s third graders, as South Tamworth won by 135 runs at McAndrew Park last Saturday.

The visitors were dismissed for 214 in 39.4 overs before the hosts were all out in 22 overs following a sharp lower order collapse.

The Souths total could have been less than 200 had Gunnedah not conceded 35 runs in sundries, but the result would surely have been comprehensive in any case.

Kevin Attard scored only a dozen runs in an opening stand of 62, before his opening partner Muhammad Ahsan went on to score 61 off 59 balls.

Souths was 4-119 following two wickets in three balls to Matt Buck in the 23rd over, before Noah Kelly struck twice in three balls to make the score 6-138 after 27 overs.

David Olrich and Nathan Mann added 43 runs for the seventh wicket, before two of the final three batters reached double figures.

Buck had the best figures while Brad Gander was the most economical with 0-22 from eight overs.

Kelly, Riley Price and Toby Blinman snared two wickets each, with Blinman hitting the stumps for both of his dismissals.

After Harry Paul was run out when batting with his dad Paddy the previous week, Paddy was run out against Souths as the father-and-son duo again opened the batting.

Paddy scored the first five runs before chancing a single in an effort to get Harry off the mark, but the fielder produced a direct hit to send the senior player packing.

Harry also scored five, and was the first of five Gunnedah players to be bowled.

Buck, Brad Gander and Lachlan King made scores between 14 and 19, before the final three batters were dismissed for ducks as Gunnedah lost its last five wickets for four runs.

South Tamworth 214 (Muhammad Ahsan 61, David Olrich 32; Matt Buck 3-36, Riley Price 2-15) defeated Gunnedah 79 (Lachlan King 19; Michael Cullen 3-15, Chris Aslin 2-7) by 135 runs.