A defiant half-century from Chris Holliday wasn’t enough for Gunnedah in the second grade cricket contest at Kitchener Park last Saturday, as Old Boys won by 29 runs.

The visitors were dismissed for 155 with five balls remaining in their allotted 40 overs, before the hosts were all out with five overs to spare.

Former Gunnedah-based players Ben Middlebrook and Rhyce Kliendienst lined up for Old Boys – having also done so last season – with Middlebrook captaining the Tamworth team and top-scoring for the victors with 47 before taking 2-13 from six overs.

Kliendienst was the pick of the bowlers with 3-10 from six overs, while 12-year-old Koby Byrne also stood out as he claimed 3-13 from four overs and held the match-sealing catch.

Old Boys opener Kieran Betts retired hurt with a hamstring injury after three overs, while he was yet to score.

A boundary to Rylan Byrne took the score to 0-28 in the eighth over, and then there were 13 dot balls in a row.

A run out produced the first wicket with the total on 41 in the 15th over, before Josh Langdon’s first wicket left Old Boys 2-46 after 16 overs.

Langdon finished with 4-41 from eight overs, while Brad Gander went wicketless but conceded just 15 runs in his eight overs. Braith Winsor was also tidy as his eight overs yielded 1-25 but Gunnedah also paid dearly for some erratic bowling, as the team conceded 22 runs in wides.

Old Boys stumbled from 2-86 to 4-92, before the total went from 96 to 102 when Kliendienst pulled a six. Next ball, he chipped a simple catch to mid-wicket.

The dismissal of Connor Orman just two balls later resulted in Betts returning to the crease, with the opener scoring nine before hitting a catch to mid-on.

Middlebrook’s departure left his team 8-137, and soon Eathen Byrne belted two sixes in three balls before being bowled as he sought another.

Blake Randahl finished with 3-36 after claiming the final wicket.

Kliendienst sent down three illegal deliveries in the first over of Gunnedah’s innings, before he bowled Zac Wheatland in the fifth over with the total on 13.

Kliendienst took a catch off his bowling to remove Gunnedah’s other opener, Josh Green, before Rylan Byrne’s first delivery dismissed Langdon.

Gunnedah fell to 4-35 in the 12th over before Holliday struck a four, a six and a four in successive deliveries in the following over.

Two of the next three overs were maidens, before Tom Swain was lbw to Middlebrook in the 19th over with the total on 70.

Holliday revived Gunnedah’s chances as he reached a half-century, and the game was interestingly poised as Koby Byrne began his spell of bowling with Gunnedah needing 57 runs from 13 overs.

The 12-year-old quickly changed the match, as Holliday holed out to mid-off from the bowler’s second delivery before Lachlan Hills was bowled two balls later.

Koby Byrne bowled Kate Gander in his next over, before Braith Winsor skied Middlebrook to mid-off to leave Gunnedah 9-110.

The last pair of Blake Randahl and Charlie Haire made a game attempt to keep the match alive, with Randahl clouting the final ball of the 34th over for four.

The final ball of the 35th over was the last of the game, as Haire lofted Kliendienst to mid-off where Koby Byrne held the catch.

This weekend the Gunnedah second graders have a bye.

Old Boys 155 (Ben Middlebrook 47, Chase Wilson 30; Josh Langdon 4-41, Blake Randahl 3-36) defeated Gunnedah 126 (Chris Holliday 51; Rhyce Kliendienst 3-10, Koby Byrne 3-13) by 29 runs.