Thirds fail to capture a wicket

Gunnedah’s third grade cricketers had another day to forget as they fell to a 10-wicket defeat against the North Tamworth Redbacks at McAndrew Park last Saturday.

Gunnedah was dismissed for just 83 in 26 overs, before North Tamworth’s openers polished off the required runs in 14.2 overs.

The hosts began slowly, and were 2-16 as Alex Ingall captured wickets from the final two balls of the 10th over.

After the home side went from 2-26 to 4-27, Ryan Cooper slammed three fours and a six as he scored a quick 21 in a 24-run partnership.

Opening batter Tom Swain did his best to hold the innings together as he made 33 off 71 balls, including five fours.

Aaron Donnelly doubled his score with a six over square leg, but he was bowled next ball as he attempted a similar shot.

Gunnedah lost its final five wickets for five runs, with the last wicket falling to a run-out from a direct hit.

North Tamworth’s openers rarely looked troubled, with Sam Thompson regularly guiding the ball elegantly through the point region.

The ninth over cost 15 runs following three fours to Mitchell Beaumont, who struck a no-ball full-toss to the boundary and then belted the ‘free hit’ for another boundary.

From the final ball of the 11th over, Beaumont hammered another ‘free hit’ for four.

The openers tallied five boundaries each, with Thompson scoring the winning runs when he swept a low full-toss behind square leg for four.

North Tamworth Redbacks 0-87 (Mitchell Beaumont 37 not out, Sam Thompson 36 not out) defeated Gunnedah 83 (Tom Swain 33; Mathew Rose 3-14, Alex Ingall 2-10) by 10 wickets.