Gunnedah’s U11 representative cricketers overcame a sluggish start to their run chase, as they recorded a seven-wicket victory against Armidale at Donnelly Fields last Sunday.
Armidale was dismissed for 101 with one ball remaining in its allotted 30 overs, before Gunnedah reached the target in 27.2 overs and then batted a little longer.
It was Gunnedah’s first win of the U11 representative season, following losses to Tamworth Gold and Narrabri.
The sundries count was not as high as it had been against Narrabri, but Gunnedah nonetheless conceded 33 runs in wides before Armidale’s bowlers gave away 23 runs in wides.
Boundaries were at a premium, with only one in Armidale’s innings and three in Gunnedah’s innings while all 24 players had a bowl.
Armidale was 1-46 when a run out produced the first wicket from the final delivery of the 13th over, and then the visiting side added 11 runs in two overs before the home side started its innings.
Runs were hard to come by, with Bastien Hallett opening his account in the 12th over before being run out moments later with the total on 21.
Rex Plevey swept the first ball of the 13th over to the boundary, and quickly moved to 14 not out to help Gunnedah to 1-38 at the 15-over mark before Armidale resumed its innings.
Rex broke through with the second legitimate ball after the break, prompting a steady flow of wickets.
Bailey Irwin held a catch off Jack Wright, who subsequently held a catch off Rex to produce the next wicket.
Bailey took a caught-and-bowled before Oscar De Groot rattled the stumps to make the score 6-80 in the 23rd over.
Rex took a catch off Emma Gander with the total on 93, and Bastien held a catch off Frank Plevey before another run was added.
Armidale was three runs shy of triple figures when Bastien hit the stumps, and then the total passed the 100-mark before Bailey held a catch off Jake Cygan.
Armidale opener Finnian Connors remained unconquered on 19, having retired at the 15-over mark and not added to his score after returning to the crease when the ninth wicket fell.
Gunnedah opener Oscar De Groot retired on six from 56 balls when the hosts resumed batting, needing 64 runs from 15 overs.
Jack departed from the fifth ball of the 16th over, but Rex found support from Lachlan Finnerty who helped move things along.
Having earlier had the best bowling figures for Gunnedah, Rex scored 30 retired before Bailey struck his first delivery to the boundary.
Lachlan was bowled for 28 as he tried to hit the winning runs from the first legal delivery of the 28th over, before successive wides took Gunnedah to the target.
Bailey departed soon afterwards, and then six dot balls followed before Angus Snape finished the match with a single.
Gunnedah’s next outing will be a home fixture against Moree on December 7.
Gunnedah 4-104 (Rex Plevey 30 retired, Lachlan Finnerty 28; Nina Blomfield 2-9) defeated Armidale 101 (Finnian Connors 19 not out; Rex Plevey 2-9) by 7 wickets.
