Civeo crush Tatts to take top spot

Civeo and Tatts clashed in the Narrabri District Cricket Association first grade competition on Saturday at Leitch Oval.

Civeo won the toss and elected to bat first.

The side saw openers Lachie Cameron and Nick Smart fall cheaply.

Cameron was dismissed for five runs by Ryan O’Neil with the assist going to Tom Craig, and Smart was bowled for two runs by Jonty Schwager.

Tatts had Civeo on the back foot with the side reeling at 2-10.

Tim Hayne and Chris Sargent entered the fray and soon after Hayne was dismissed.

Schwager secured that wicket with Michael Leven taking the catch.

Civeo were 3-16 when Tim Shields walked to the crease.

The batsman managed two runs before being stumped by Michael Cain off the bowling of Craig Gleeson making the score 4-25.

John Lawlor was the next man in but he was dismissed for a duck by Brock Schwager who combined with Anthony Schwager to take the score to 5-26.

In the Gleeson-bowled over Sargent was caught in front of his stumps and given out for LBW.

With the scoreboard reading 6-32 Jade Lees and Jock Small doubled Civeo’s score in one partnership.

Lees was eventually dismissed by O’Neil thanks to a great catch by Jakeb Nipperess to make the score 7-64.

O’Neil struck again soon after, combining with Brock Schwager to dismiss top run scorer Jock Small for 23 runs.

With the score reading 8-73 Joel Hogan entered the pitch and managed eight runs before being bowled by Anthony Schwager.

That wicket made the score 9-83 but a last-wicket partnership between Matt Conroy and Brady Jenkins provided a big boost to Civeo’s score.

The pair added 30 runs to the final total before Jenkins was given out for LBW in Anthony Schwager’s over.

Tatts were confident of grabbing the win and securing top spot in the competition but a bizarre batting collapse and brilliant bowling attack took Civeo clear on top of the table.

Daniel Kahl and Michael Hewitt opened the innings for Tatts but neither could make an impact on the scoreboard.

Kahl was dismissed for five runs after being run-out and Hewitt was bowled for four runs by Small.

Those wickets made the score 2-12 when Gleeson and Craig entered the pitch.

Gleeson was removed shortly after as Joel Hogan secured his first wicket of the match.

The scoreboard read 3-32 when Nipperess walked to the crease but he could manage just one run before Small combined with Sargent to earn Civeo’s fourth wicket.

O’Neil was the next batsman but Small removed him the very next ball.

That made the score 5-33 and six runs later Cain was dismissed for three by Hogan making the score 6-39.

Craig scored a team-high total of 18 runs but he was removed by Small to make the score 7-43.

Tatts would manage just three runs from their final three batsman as Brock Schwager (1) was dismissed by Small.

Anthony (0) and Jonty Schwager (0) were then removed by Hogan in quick succession.

Those wickets ended Tatts innings, scoring just 46 runs.

Small received three NDCA best and fairest points, bowling partner Hogan earned two and Conroy scored one.