Gunnedah’s second grade cricketers were unable to capitalise on a strong start to last Saturday’s contest at Kitchener Park, as they lost to the North Tamworth Redbacks by 89 runs.
The visitors were in trouble at 3-14 in the fifth over, before a recovery resulted in a total of 212 which proved well beyond reach of the home side.
Gunnedah consequently finished last on the seven-team ladder with two wins and 16 losses, while the fourth-placed Norths qualified for the finals.
It was a disappointing result for Gunnedah, which placed fifth last season with six wins (including three on forfeit) and 13 losses before starting this season on a winning note.
Three quick wickets to Adam Veli-Gold gave the hosts their great start last Saturday, moments after Redbacks opener Toby Ireland hit a six.
Harry Paul held catches at mid-wicket from the fourth and fifth balls of the over, before Veli-Gold narrowly missed a hat-trick when the next ball was a play-and-miss.
Matt Heit held a catch at point with the second ball of Veli-Gold’s following over, but then a 64-run partnership changed the complexion.
Sixteen runs were scored in the 10th over, with the last scheduled ball dispatched for four before the ensuing free hit was struck for another boundary.
Harry Paul and captain Richard Avendano temporarily pinned the run rate down, and the former broke the partnership when he bowled Marc Tyler.
There was no more joy for the hosts for a while, as Lachlan Bennetts-Inkster and Hamish Batley put on a century partnership.
Twenty runs in the 22nd over boosted the total to 4-117, as Batley took the attack to Jakob Vearing. A hook for four was followed by a hoick for six and a delicate glide for two, before another six was followed by two singles.
With the second of those sixes, Heit nearly produced a stunning catch on the boundary.
Batley finished with five fours and five sixes in his 73, while Bennetts-Inkster registered eight fours and a six in his 71.
Batley fell with the total on 188 before Bennetts-Inkster departed eight runs later, and then the Redbacks lost their final four wickets for only six runs.
Having captured two wickets in successive balls, Heit finished with three scalps while the Redbacks were all out with nine balls remaining in their allotted 40 overs.
Gunnedah was 1-12 after two overs when Josh Langdon heard the ‘death rattle’, before the loss of Jayden Winsor and Heit made it 3-40 in the ninth over.
Thirty-seven runs were added for the fourth wicket, before the hosts lost six wickets for 17 runs.
Paddy Paul and Veli-Gold put on 29 runs for the last wicket, with the latter playing some attacking shots before skying a catch to cover.
North Tamworth Redbacks 212 (Hamish Batley 73, Lachlan Bennetts-Inkster 71; Matthew Heit 3-9, Adam Veli-Gold 3-32, Harry Paul 2-36) defeated Gunnedah 123 (Richard Avendano 25; Bradley Redshaw 4-13, Hamish Batley 2-28) by 89 runs.
