Gunnedah’s two-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in the third grade cricket competition, as Old Boys romped to a seven-wicket victory at McAndrew Park last Saturday.
Even with Old Boys player Hayden Hopwood-Young lining up for the home side, Gunnedah was still a player short before being dismissed for 71 in 27.5 overs.
Andrew Johns hit a four in the first over, before the hosts slumped to 3-6 in the fifth over while the ball moved around on the green pitch.
Jack Canham somewhat unluckily played the ball onto the stumps, and then his opening partner was ruled lbw before captain Nick Herring was bowled by a ball that skidded.
The next two victims were caught-and-bowled, before another lbw was given.
Hopwood-Young slammed his second delivery for six but was stumped next ball, leaving Gunnedah 7-31.
Paddy Paul top-scored with 16 not out while Charlie Haire was the only other Gunnedah player to reach double figures, as he made 11 at number nine.
Having tallied 10 wickets for just 34 runs in the previous two rounds, Harry Paul gave the hosts a glimmer of hope when he had Bradley Duprez caught by Hopwood-Young for a duck from the third ball of the run chase.
Harry Paul gained plenty of movement, but his figures of 2-15 from six overs weren’t enough for the home side to make a game of it.
Bodie Williams-Glass hit four fours, before cutting a catch to Paddy Paul at point off the bowling of the fielder’s son with the total on 37.
Former Gunnedah cricketer Andrew Swain did the bulk of the scoring as the visitors cruised to victory in just 14 overs, although Digby Grimm nabbed his maiden wicket at senior level when he rattled Joshua Mavin’s stumps in the dying stages of the game.
A six to Shawn Earsman concluded a largely forgettable day for Gunnedah, which remained second-last on the eight-team ladder and will contest the top-placed Quirindi at the Quirindi-based Longfield Park this Saturday.
Old Boys 3-76 (Andrew Swain 38 not out; Harry Paul 2-15) defeated Gunnedah 71 (Paddy Paul 16 not out; Mal Green 3-15, Shawn Earsman and Michael Barber 2-7, Neil Newton 2-12) by seven wickets.
