A competitive showing from Gunnedah’s third grade cricketers went unrewarded at McAndrew Park last Saturday, as Old Boys prevailed by four wickets.
A total of 110 wasn’t sufficient for the hosts, who caused a few hiccups in the run chase before the match ended in the 25th over of the Old Boys innings.
Shawn Earsman made a big impact with bat and ball as he and captain Malcolm Green claimed three wickets apiece for Old Boys, before Earsman made the highest individual score of the match.
Earsman had two lbw appeals upheld as Gunnedah stumbled to 2-24, before Bodie Williams-Glass struck twice in one over to make the score 4-35.
Ken Walters top-scored with 28 at the top of the order, before his dismissal in the 20th over with the total on 62 was a severe setback for the hosts.
Paddy Paul made 18 at number seven before Shiran Ranasinghe made an undefeated 18 at number nine, but the run rate remained slow throughout the innings while no decent partnerships developed.
Opening bowler Matthew Crawford conceded only 12 runs in his eight overs, before the final wicket fell from the first ball of the 40th and final over.
Two wickets in three balls left Old Boys 2-15 after three overs, with Zafar Mukhtar holding a catch at mid-off before Angus Johns won an lbw appeal.
Old Boys was an unsteady 3-36 when Zoe Fleming held a catch in the gully off Harry Paul, who finished with impressive figures of 1-7 from six overs.
A 52-run fourth wicket stand put the Tamworth team in the box seat, however, before another mini collapse merely made the result appear more respectable.
Earsman hit a series of fours and sixes, and Williams-Glass progressed to 20 before both were bowled as they slogged at Fleming in the 18th over.
Two new batters were at the crease as soon as Old Boys slipped from 3-88 to 5-89, before Jye Young swatted a four through the legside.
A tough caught-and-bowled chance was spilled in the 20th over before Young slog-swept a six in the following over, and was bowled next ball as he sought another big hit.
Only 10 runs were needed with four wickets in hand, and then Coen Hopwood-Young whacked a full-toss for four.
Another return catch was put down in the dying stages, before another four from Hopwood-Young ended the game.
Gunnedah’s third and fourth graders contest Quirindi at Longfield Park this Saturday, after Gunnedah’s fourth graders won on forfeit last weekend.
Old Boys 6-111 (Shawn Earsman 31; Zoe Fleming 2-20, Angus Johns 2-28) defeated Gunnedah 110 (Ken Walters 28; Shawn Earsman and Malcolm Green 3-19) by 4 wickets.
