Gunnedah survives as first grade fixture fizzles out

Gunnedah had little trouble avoiding outright defeat last Saturday as Old Boys settled for a first-innings victory in the two-day first grade cricket contest at Wolseley Park.

Having posted 90 runs for the loss of two wickets the previous Saturday after dismissing Gunnedah for 82, Old Boys went on to declare at 9-208 before Gunnedah finished its second innings on 2-54.

Former Gunnedah cricketer Adam McGuirk top-scored for Old Boys as he batted with three other ex-Gunnedah cricketers: Hayden Baker, Mitchell Swain and Rhyce Kliendienst.

Gunnedah’s first grade rookie, Jonah Cameron, was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets on each day.

Only two runs were added to Old Boys’ first-day score when Cameron grabbed his third wicket as Izaak Merlehan held a catch.

Merlehan also held catches for the next two dismissals, giving Andrew Osmond and Peter McCormack a wicket each as Old Boys stumbled to 5-107.

Merlehan claimed the next wicket when Jaryd Stevens edged a catch to the wicketkeeper, making the score 6-120.

Swain scored five in a 19-run stand before Lachie Straney bowled him, and then Kliendienst scored 10 in a 22-run stand before Jye Hicks caught him off Osmond’s bowling.

Old Boys teenager (no pun intended) Jayden Baker – no relation to Hayden – made an encouraging 21 not out while McGuirk progressed to a half-century.

McGuirk, who finished with six fours and a six, went from 43 to 51 with successive fours before departing from the next ball as Kyle Gallen held a catch off Cameron.

The visitors declared their innings closed at this point, having faced 38.4 overs on the day and allowing themselves about 38 overs to take 10 wickets and push for outright points.

With Gunnedah missing captain Andy Mack on day two after the team lasted 47.1 overs on day one, Old Boys may have sensed extra vulnerability in Gunnedah’s batting line-up.

Sam Doubleday found the boundary three times before departing for 20 off 27 balls, and Gallen hit two fours in his 10 off 24 balls.

Doubleday’s dismissal left Gunnedah 1-25 in the eighth over before Gallen exited in the 18th over with the total on 41, but there were no signs of another batting collapse.

Justin Carter registered one four as he plodded his way to 13 not out from 80 balls, and Merlehan scored three not out from 26 balls before the match was called off after Gunnedah faced 26 overs.

It was easy to say in hindsight that Old Boys should have declared much earlier, possibly even at the start of the day’s proceedings to increase the chance of gaining outright points.

Gunnedah will have its final outing of the season this weekend, with a two-day game against South Tamworth at Riverside.

Old Boys 9-208 declared (Adam McGuirk 51; Jonah Cameron 4-45, Andrew Osmond 2-44) defeated Gunnedah 82 (Kyle Gallen 31; Hayden Baker 5-28, Paballo Mogoera 2-10) and 2-54 (Sam Doubleday 20; Rhyce Kliendienst 1-2) on the first innings.