Round three of Gunnedah Premier League T20 action saw a seven wicket win for Croplands against Rhazzad Concreting, while McDonald’s prevailed over Carters Pharmacy in the other fixture.
Batting first, Rhazzad posted 112 off their 20 overs, thanks largely to Ben Middlebrook with 37 not out, ably supported by Alisdair Hewitt with 15 at the top of the order.
Croplands’ bowlers were stringent in restricting Rhazzad to their low score, as Ateeq Ur-Rahman with 2/24 and Kyle Gallen 2/12 both took multiple wickets for their side.
Opening the innings for Croplands, Gallen then took the sword to the Rhazzad bowling in pursuit of the 113 run target, blasting 79 not out although Rhazzad did make early inroads to restrict Croplands to 3/25 early in the run chase.
Gallen remained though and in conjunction with Sam Doubleday they put together an 88-run stand to complete victory due largely in part to Gallen’s belligerent stroke play.
Carters Pharmacy set a competitive 132 batting first in the other match against McDonald’s, built on the back of an impressive 52 opening run partnership between Cameron Waugh and Justin Carter.
Waugh was particularly aggressive but when he lost partner Carter for 15, he soon followed after a brisk 35 and the score 2/55 after their solid opening start.
Henry Johns and Daniel Head consolidated the platform their openers made, taking the score to 122 before Head was run out as Johns remained 30 not out by innings close when his side reached 132 after their 20 overs.
McDonald’s struggled early in the run chase, losing 3/19 inside four overs, but opener Tim Kelly remained and became the crucial figure for McDonalds.
Firstly he found an alibi in Steve Keeler who made 21, and then AJ King who made 23 but it was Kelly who was the standout with 47.
McDonald’s completed victory on the back of Kelly, while Carters Pharmacy was best served in the bowling stakes by openers Peter McCormack with 2/22 and Will Ford claiming 2/23.
