An extraordinary batting collapse from Gunnedah enabled Tamworth Gold to record a shock 22-run victory in last Sunday’s U11 representative cricket match at Donnelly Fields, after the hosts were in control.
An early finish loomed when the visiting side crashed to 8-24, before a recovery enabled Tamworth Gold to finish with a still unimpressive total of 75.
Gunnedah was 1-41 at one stage in its innings, before capitulating.
Nine of Tamworth Gold’s players were bowled, while the third victim was run out.
Conversely, five of Gunnedah’s players were bowled while there were three catches and two run-outs.
Gunnedah’s opening bowler Oscar De Groot captured 2-1 in his four overs, and Jack Wright also claimed two scalps while five others nabbed one each.
The eighth wicket fell in the ninth over but Gunnedah failed to polish things off, enabling Tamworth Gold to advance to 8-49 at the 14-over mark.
Gunnedah then batted for 15 overs, with Oscar playing a stonewalling role at the top of the order as he scored an undefeated six off 49 balls while Jack took some initiative.
The hosts slipped from 1-41 to 3-41 as Adriaan Henn rattled the stumps twice in the 15th over, but Gunnedah still had the upper hand.
Adriaan however went on to score 20 at number nine, while Yaksh Kapatia scored 13 at number 10. The 75-run total featured 29 sundries, including 21 from wides and no-balls.
Sixteen vital runs were added for the final wicket while Patrick Daley scored three not out off 24 balls at number 11, leaving Gunnedah needing 35 more runs with seven wickets in hand.
Just 12 runs were added in 10.5 overs, while the final seven wickets fell.
Tamworth Gold 75 (Adriaan Henn 20; Oscar De Groot 2-1, Jack Wright 2-8) defeated Gunnedah 53 (Jack Wright 13; Adriaan Henn, Darcy Lane and Ayla Pepper 2-4) by 22 runs.
