Another sub-standard batting display from Gunnedah’s third grade cricketers led to another sizable defeat, as they finished their season with a 113-run loss to the North Tamworth Redbacks at McAndrew Park last Saturday.

For the second consecutive week Gunnedah made a total of around 100 when chasing a total beyond 200.

Gunnedah finished seventh out of eight teams with five wins and 13 defeats; an improvement from last season when Gunnedah’s third graders were wooden-spooners following two wins and 14 losses.

Nate Grasnick and Jacob McGoldrick were chiefly responsible for Norths’ 40-over total of 9-218 last Saturday, with Grasnick making 72 off 89 balls as an opener before McGoldrick hammered 53 not out from 32 balls at number eight.

In reply, Gunnedah was dismissed in just 22.2 overs.

A four to Grasnick raised a 50-run opening stand in 10.1 overs, before veteran left-arm medium-pacer Shayne Riordan struck with the total on 52 when Mathew Rose spooned a full-toss to Jack Canham at mid-off.

Riordan bowled two opponents in three balls to have the Redbacks 3-64 after 14 overs, before Canham broke a 32-run partnership in his first over.

The 23rd over cost 17 runs, starting with a no-ball which Grasnick dispatched for six.

Norths was 4-151 after 30 overs before losing 3-10, with two wickets to Brad Gander sandwiched by Canham’s dismissal of Grasnick.

Fourteen runs in the 34th over were followed by a run-out in the 35th, before the 37th was a rare maiden.

The ninth wicket fell at 193 in the 38th over but McGoldrick kept going, with two sixes and a four in the penultimate over.

Gunnedah was 1-3 when Canham was bowled from the second legitimate ball of the run chase, before a steady flow of wickets left the hosts 7-56 in the 14th over.

Angus Johns struck four fours as he top-scored with a run-a-ball 19 at number nine.

Lachlan Hills and Charlie Haire hit a four each in the 20th over before Hills departed in the next over with the total on 96, and then the final scoring shot was a four to Haire which took the total to 105.

North Tamworth Redbacks 9-218 (Nate Grasnick 72, Jacob McGoldrick 53 not out; Shayne Riordan 3-16) defeated Gunnedah 105 (Angus Johns 19; Alex Ingall 3-17, Mathew Rose 2-5) by 113 runs.