Gunnedah-based junior cricketer Nate Partridge returned some tidy bowling figures as he represented North West in last week’s Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Boys Cricket Championships in Maitland.
It was the first time Nate played cricket at this level, with his dad Dave saying it was “very good experience for him” as North West encountered two Sydney teams and a Riverina team.
Nate said the cricket was a bit more serious and pressurised than what he was familiar with.
After the trials for the North West team were held in Tamworth, Nate was the only Gunnedah-based player to make the team while his teammates came from Bingara, Carroll, Gulargambone, Inverell, Kellys Plains, Narrabri, Tamworth and Timbumburi.
Nate was used primarily as a bowler in the 50-overs-per-side contests, and he batted in the lower order. He picked up one wicket throughout the four days, and usually had economical figures while he also held three catches.
While he was unable to reach double figures with the bat, Nate made a start in the final game and felt he was finding form when he was unfortunately run out.
Nate claimed his sole wicket on the opening day, but North West had something of a reality check as the team lost comprehensively to eventual championship victor Sydney North.
The following day, North West had its first victory for two years at the PSSA Boys Cricket Championships as the team accounted for Sydney South West.
North West was perhaps a shade unlucky not to win again, as the team lost narrowly to Western and Riverina on the Thursday and Friday respectively. These two games went down to the wire, with Nate bowling the final over on Thursday as the opposition needed just one run for victory.
Nate made the batter work hard for the winning run, as he delivered a few dot balls before Western scraped home.
Dave said the players deserved to be commended for their dedication, as conditions were overcast and sticky on the first two days before the final two days were hot.
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