Gunnedah first grade has secured a hard-fought victory over Bective East in round 2 of the Tamworth District Cricket Association competition, chasing down 203 for the loss of six wickets.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Gunnedah restricted Bective East to 3-202 from its 40 overs before reaching 6-204 in 39.1 overs to claim the win.

Gunnedah captain Izaak Merlehan led from the front with the bat, scoring 60 from 68 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.

Merlehan provided a crucial contribution at the top of the order, helping set up the chase alongside Kyle Gallen, who scored 32 from 54 balls.

Justin Carter made 10 before being dismissed, while Keaton Walters added 26 from 35 deliveries to keep Gunnedah in the hunt.

Hayden Doherty chipped in with 28 from 29 balls, including two fours and a six, as Gunnedah continued to build towards the target.

With the result still to be secured late in the innings, Aidan King remained unbeaten on 11 and Sam Doubleday finished not out on six to guide Gunnedah across the line with five balls remaining.

Bective East’s Jye Paterson was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3-19 from eight overs, including two maidens. Archie McMaster took 1-39, while Adam Jones finished with 1-18.

Earlier, Bective East made a steady start after being sent in, with Abel Carney scoring 18 before falling to Izaak Merlehan’s bowling.

Bective captain Matthew Everett top-scored with 48 from 88 balls, while McMaster remained unbeaten on 40 from 72 deliveries.

The innings gained momentum late, with Jye Paterson striking 34 from just 21 balls before Adam Jones provided a powerful finish, smashing an unbeaten 47 from 22 deliveries, including five sixes.

Merlehan, Sam Doubleday and Walters each claimed a wicket for Gunnedah, while Kyle Gallen and the bowling attack helped keep the innings in check before the late surge.

Gunnedah second grade bundled out for 53

Gunnedah second grade suffered a heavy defeat against Bective East, dismissed for just 53 in reply to Bective’s 195.

Bective East won the toss and elected to bat, with William Scholes leading the way with 66 from 50 deliveries, including 10 fours and two sixes.

After losing Chris Paterson early, Bective recovered through Scholes, who helped lift the score before falling to Jaycob Price’s bowling.

Luke Paterson contributed 22 from 33 balls, while captain Harry Morrow added 36 from 31 deliveries, including two fours and a six.

Shahid Khalfan also chipped in with 22 from 20 balls as Bective built a competitive total before being dismissed for 195 in 37.3 overs.

Gunnedah’s bowlers shared the workload, with Bradley Gander claiming 2-27 from eight overs, while Josh Langdon took 2-45. Nicholas Herring also picked up two wickets, while Price, Adam Veli-Gold, Joshua Frost and captain Braithen Winsor claimed one apiece.

In reply, Gunnedah was unable to build any meaningful partnerships against Bective’s bowling attack.

Josh Langdon made eight at the top of the order, while Price scored seven, but wickets fell regularly as Gunnedah slumped to 3-19.

The situation worsened as Chris Holliday, Gander and the middle order were unable to halt the collapse, with the side losing five wickets for just four runs to be 5-23.

Joshua Frost top-scored for Gunnedah with 12 from 29 deliveries, while Ken Walters remained unbeaten on nine.

However, Bective’s bowlers continued to dominate, with William Burke producing a spell of 6-6 from 7.5 overs, including four maidens.

Khalfan also claimed 2-10 from four overs, while Craig Baker finished with 1-5 from four overs, including two maidens.

Gunnedah was eventually dismissed for 53 in 22.5 overs.

Middlebrook, Hockings star in Gunnedah win

Gunnedah third grade claimed a convincing victory, winning by 95 runs after posting 8-206 before dismissing their opponents for 111.

Gunnedah won the toss and elected to bat, with Jonathan Middlebrook and Julian Hockings leading the way with impressive half-centuries.

Middlebrook top-scored early with 58, striking seven fours to help Gunnedah build a strong platform at the top of the order.

Oscar Middlebrook also made a valuable contribution, scoring 34 with three fours, while Lachie Straney added 16 as Gunnedah continued to build its innings.

After wickets fell at regular intervals, Hockings provided the innings with a strong finish, remaining unbeaten on 59, including seven fours.

Angus Johns contributed 16 as Gunnedah finished its 40 overs at 8-206, setting Bective East a challenging target of 207.

Bradley Hoad was the pick of the Bective bowlers, claiming 4-37 from eight overs, while Hugo Clery and captain Josh Howison took two wickets each.

Bective’s run chase began poorly, with Gunnedah’s bowlers making early inroads to leave the visitors struggling at 3-14.

Steven Clydsdale scored 10 before falling to Angus Johns, who also dismissed Brock Moxon and helped put Gunnedah in control early.

Ellie Davidson and Ryan Griffiths then provided some resistance, combining to lift Bective’s score and give the innings some momentum.

Davidson scored 29, while Griffiths made 26, including four boundaries, as the pair helped take Bective to 87 before Griffiths was dismissed by Straney.

However, the partnership proved to be Bective’s best chance of mounting a challenge, with Gunnedah quickly regaining control.

Hockings produced an outstanding spell with the ball, claiming 3-12 from five overs, while Jack Canham took 2-6 from two overs to help clean up the tail.

Johns finished with 2-33 from six overs, while Naveen Yarasingu and Straney also claimed a wicket apiece.

Bective East was eventually dismissed for 111 in 29 overs.

Saturday’s fourth grade match was a forfeit.

This weekend, Gunnedah takes on City United in first grade at Tamworth’s Bicentennial Oval.

Second grade and third grade play South Tamworth at home, at Wolseley Oval and Kitchener Oval, respectively. Fourth grade also plays at home against South Tamworth, at Donnelly Field.

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