Gunnedah’s Jonah Cameron claims two wickets on first grade debut

A fine spell of bowling from debutant first grader Jonah Cameron was a rare positive aspect for Gunnedah on day one of the two-day first grade cricket clash with Old Boys at Wolseley Park.

The hosts were dismissed for just 82 in 47.1 overs, before the visitors reached 2-90 in 22 overs last Saturday following two breakthroughs from Cameron.

Cameron became the third Gunnedah cricketer to line up in all four grades this season, with his promotion to first grade coming after he captured 6-28 in second grade in the previous round.

Jaycob Price and Peter McCormack also stepped up from second grade to first grade, as Gunnedah was unable to field all four grades last Saturday.

Frustratingly for the hosts, former Gunnedah cricketer Hayden Baker again ripped through the local batting line-up while another wicket-taker was another former Gunnedah cricketer: Rhyce Kliendienst.

After taking 6-16 at the same venue four weeks earlier as Old Boys won a one-day game by five wickets, Baker captured 5-28 in 11 overs while four other Old Boys bowlers shared the remaining wickets.

Having won the toss, Gunnedah managed 10 runs in the first five overs before five consecutive maidens were followed by a boundary from Kliendienst’s first delivery.

Another 11 consecutive dot balls followed, including the first wicket as Justin Carter was bowled by Lawson Shepherd.

Peter McCormack was one of a few players to step up to first grade for Gunnedah last Saturday.

Two more runs were added before Kliendienst trapped Gunnedah skipper Andy Mack lbw, and soon the hosts were in deeper trouble when Richard Avendano exited for a single.

Kyle Gallen and Jye Hicks provided temporary resistance as they added 35 runs in 17 overs before Baker took two wickets in three balls.

Gallen hit Baker for six a couple of overs later, and worked his way to 31 off 97 balls before Baker accounted for Gallen and Price with successive deliveries.

Paballo Mogoera claimed the next wicket before Baker picked up his fifth, and then Mogoera polished off the innings with his second scalp.

Mogoera soon hit three runs from the third ball of the Old Boys innings, before Shepherd hit the sixth ball to the boundary.

The left-handed Shepherd raced to 39 at better than a run per ball before falling to the fourth delivery of Cameron’s third over, as an inswinging yorker uprooted the middle-stump.

Cameron took 2-16 in his six overs, with his final delivery trapping Harrison Hamilton lbw. Hamilton faced 21 balls without scoring, including 18 from Cameron.

Gunnedah’s captain said he had nothing but praise for Cameron, who “looked like he had been there all season long”.

“(He) showed maturity beyond his years, (was) very disciplined and did exactly what was asked of him,” Mack said.

“Rewarded himself with the first breakthrough, and consistency brought him a wicket off the final ball of his spell.

“(It was) great to see a kid proceed through the grades the way it should be done properly, as opposed to others who have (been) denied and not been forthcoming for opportunities in first grade.”

Old Boys passed Gunnedah’s total in the second-last over of the day, and will resume batting this Saturday before seeking to dismiss the hosts a second time.

Old Boys 2-90 (Lawson Shepherd 39, Paballo Mogoera 31 not out; Jonah Cameron 2-16) leads Gunnedah 82 (Kyle Gallen 31; Hayden Baker 5-28, Paballo Mogoera 2-10) by eight runs on the first innings.

Jonah Cameron prepares to fire in a return from the outfield during his impressive first grade debut.