Things went downhill for Gunnedah following a dream start to last Saturday’s third grade cricket clash at McAndrew Park, with West Tamworth recording a thumping 186-run victory.

Wests lost a wicket from the first ball of the game but went on to amass 5-258 in its 40 overs, before Gunnedah folded for 72 in only 17.2 overs.

The home side was two players short in the first over, before being one player short for the remainder of the match.

Nick Herring gave the hosts their ideal start as he trapped Mark Johnson lbw from the opening delivery, but then a 99-run partnership turned the tide.

Jacob Ellis’s first 10 scoring strokes were singles, while Dave Mudalier showed his boundary-hitting ability as he struck 10 fours and a six in his 67.

Mudalier creamed successive fours off Paddy Paul in the 20th over, but was caught at cover off a full-toss later in the same over.

Jyemeil Peters scored 26 in a 48-run stand before Jack Canham had him lbw, and Ellis was still six runs shy of a half-century when he was impressively caught by Herring with the total on 167.

There were plenty of fours and sixes as 91 runs were added in the final nine overs, for the loss of one wicket.

There had been plenty of untidy fielding, while Gunnedah conceded 28 runs from illegitimate bowling as well as nine runs from byes.

John Kennedy and former Gunnedah player Mitch Rolinson wrecked the home side with four wickets each, following an early flurry of boundaries from Andrew Johns.

The left-handed opener’s three scoring strokes were fours – all in the first two overs – before Kennedy trapped both openers lbw in the third over.

Shiran Ranasinghe’s two scoring strokes were fours, before he and Canham departed in Kennedy’s third over to leave Gunnedah 4-25.

Jakob Vearing’s knock of 25 included 20 runs from fours before he was bowled by Rolinson, and there was little resistance as only nine dismissals were needed for Gunnedah to be all out.

The sixth and ninth victims were caught behind, and the seventh popped a catch to short cover before the eighth victim had a stump floored.

Having had three defeats and a washout since beginning the season on a winning note, Gunnedah hosts Norths at Kitchener Park this Saturday while Norths also seeks its second victory of the season.

Wests 5-258 (Dave Mudalier 67, Jacob Ellis and Jake Morris 44) defeated Gunnedah 72 (Jakob Vearing 25; John Kennedy 4-10, Mitch Rolinson 4-14) by 186 runs.