A late batting collapse made the result seem somewhat respectable for Gunnedah as Inverell recorded a five-wicket triumph in U13 representative cricket at Donnelly Fields last Sunday.

The visitors were virtually assured of victory at 1-120 in reply to the home side’s 140, before four wickets fell for 13 runs.

Inverell’s Cooper Nelson stood out with 2-29 from eight overs and a score of 51, while teammate Ryan Savage took 3-6 from eight balls and followed up with a score of 38.

After the visitors chose to bowl first, Hudson Pleffer took the second and third wickets to have the hosts tottering at 3-27.

Marnee Walters fell to a fine catch behind point, before Hudson held a simple return catch to dismiss Oscar Middlebrook.

Ed Martin and Tyler Small had some luck go their way during a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket, before two quick wickets made the score 5-78.

Kallie Walters made 22 and could claim that she outscored the combined scores of her siblings Keaton and Marnee on the same day, while also matching their dad Ken’s score from the previous day.

Ed top-scored with 61 off 96 balls which included five boundaries, before his departure ended a 51-run partnership.

Gunnedah lost its final four wickets for just two runs, and fell four balls shy of batting out the 40 overs.

Gunnedah benefited from 19 runs in illegitimate bowling, before conceding 27 runs from illegal deliveries.

Inverell had 42 runs on the board when the first wicket fell from the final ball of the 12th over, before the 78-run stand between Cooper and Ryan ensured Inverell was in control.

Gunnedah gave all 11 of its players a bowl, after 10 of Inverell’s players rolled the arm over.

Marnee nabbed two wickets, with Ryan pulling a catch to deep square leg before Declan Marsh lobbed a catch to gully. Shortly before Declan’s dismissal, Cooper was dropped twice in quick succession off the same bowler.

Ed rattled Albert Taylor’s stumps, and soon Cooper posted his half-century before chipping a full-toss back to Ed for a caught-and-bowled.

Ed finished with 2-15 from eight overs, before Hudson finished the match with four overs to spare when he clubbed a four to deep mid-wicket.

Inverell 5-144 (Cooper Nelson 51, Ryan Savage 38; Marnee Walters 2-14, Ed Martin 2-15) defeated Gunnedah 140 (Ed Martin 61; Ryan Savage 3-6, Hudson Pleffer 2-16, Cooper Nelson 2-29) by five wickets.

Ryan Savage stood out with bat and ball in Inverell’s victory against Gunnedah.

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