Staunch resistance from several Gunnedah players wasn’t enough to prevent an innings defeat in the recent Tamworth District Cricket Association (TDCA) contest at Riverside 1.
The North Tamworth Redbacks had Gunnedah on the ropes at the start of play last Saturday, with the hosts having declared at 7-232 from 48 overs and reduced Gunnedah to a pitiful 9-34 from 19 overs on the previous Saturday.
Only 10 deliveries were needed on day two for the final wicket to fall in Gunnedah’s first innings, with one run having been added to the total before the visiting team was forced to follow-on.
The visitors made a much better fist of it in their second innings, as they were dismissed for 172 in 49 overs.
Izaak Merlehan, Ash White and Aidan King were Gunnedah’s top three scorers, after they were all dismissed without scoring on day one.
Justin Carter and Keaton Walters also avoided being dismissed for two ducks in the one game.
The opening partnership produced 18 runs at a slow pace before three wickets fell without the addition of a run. This resembled the previous week, when Gunnedah suffered two collapses of four wickets for no runs.
There was no disputing the cheap dismissal of Walters this time, as he was trapped plumb lbw from a low full-toss after he was wretchedly unlucky to be adjudged caught behind in the first innings.
Another low total looked possible when Brad Swain’s departure made the score 5-34, but Merlehan and King saved face with a 68-run partnership after they both made a golden duck in the first innings.
King had a lucky escape when a dropped catch in the slips enabled him to pick up two runs.
Merlehan clubbed 10 authoritative fours and a six in his 60, before a Jordan Lewington delivery breached his defence.
White hit two sixes during his partnership with King, who was subsequently caught for 28.
The eighth and ninth wickets fell quickly, before 36 runs were added in nearly nine overs for the final wicket.
Last batter Will Hicks was bowled for eight off 30 balls, leaving White stranded on 39 not out while Gunnedah was 25 runs shy of avoiding an innings defeat.
The last-placed Gunnedah returns home to Wolseley Park this Saturday for the start of a two-day clash with the second-last Old Boys, with day two the following Saturday.
Additionally, Gunnedah is scheduled to contest Moree, Old Boys and Armidale in T20 fixtures at Riverside this Sunday.
North Tamworth Redbacks 7-232 declared (Brendan Rixon 64, Devon Hamley 58, Blake Scicluna 47; Sam Doubleday 4-87, Ash White 3-33) defeated Gunnedah 35 (Matthew Heit 18; Zack Basey 5-7, Thomas Holmes 2-0, Oliver Cordery 2-7) and 172 (Izaak Merlehan 60, Ash White 39 not out, Aidan King 28; Thomas Holmes 3-12, Devon Hamley 3-22) by an innings and 25 runs.
