The Narrabri District Cricket Association’s first XI scored a terrific first round win in the War Veterans Cup on Sunday.
The match was held at Tamworth’s number one oval and saw the Pink Slugs play extremely well.
The visitors lost the toss and Tamworth elected to bat and that choice benefitted Narrabri.
The Pink Slugs’ bowlers took aim at Tamworth and had the home side reeling at 8-96 before an unlikely partnership helped Tamworth to score 138 runs.
Narrabri’s top batsman, Nick Smart scored a game-high 76 runs and held strong through a rough opening batting period.
Chris Sargent scored the match-winning runs in the 32nd over.
NDCA first XI captain Lachlan Cameron said the all-round performance was terrific.
“I’m really happy with that performance,” he said.
“If I was offered to be chasing 138 runs at the start of the day I would take it any day of the week.
“We bowled and fielded really well, restricted them.
“To get the runs the way we did I was pretty happy with that. Dylan Smith and Ryan O’Neil got us off to a really good start,” said Cameron.
“Everyone was really strong and we backed it up in the field.
“Man of the match had to be [Smart], but Dylan Smith helped out in a big way too.”
The fresh Pink Slugs’ bowling attack took the first wicket early on.
Ryan O’Neil dismissed Tamworth opener and captain Jye Paterson for just seven runs as the score read 1-16.
Narrabri’s fastest rising star Dylan Smith was next to strike bowling Harrison Kelly for just 10 runs with a wicked delivery securing Narrabri’s second wicket for just 31 runs.
Smith continued his fine form taking Narrabri’s third wicket, via LBW, the very next ball making the score 3-31.
Narrabri’s bowling attack secured its fourth wicket shortly after through the bowling of O’Neil.
O’Neil bowled a peach which was nicked and taken by the safe hand of wicket-keeper Steve Phelps.
That dismissal brought the score to 4-34.
O’Neil would take his terrific form with the ball and use that momentum in the field.
The high-octane fielder was able to secure Narrabri’s fifth wicket with a run-out as Tamworth fell to 5-48.
Throughout the rapid batting collapse, Tamworth opener Simon Norvill stood strong.
Norvill would find a partner in Travis Ling who survived 20 balls, allowing the opener to score quickly.
But Ling was dismissed by Justin Knight who earned his first wicket of the day to make the score 6-80.
Norvill batted with patience and precision but he would fall just short of a half-century thanks to Pink Slugs’ paceman Nathan Trindall.
Trindall would bowl Tamworth’s top run scorer for 48 from 40 balls.
That dismissal made the score 7-80.
With Tamworth’s tail the only hope of pitching up a decent total was left to their bowling attack.
The partnership between Tait Jordan and Bryan Warren was smashed by Jayde Lees who bowled Jordan out for six runs making the score 8-96.
A 41-run partnership between Warren and Bradley Redshaw saved the home side from an embarrassing total, putting a respectable total on the board.
Chris Sargent was able to bowl Redshaw before the pair did any more damage, making the score 9-137.
Sargent would have his second and Narrabri’s final wicket just two deliveries later as Warren was finally dismissed for 39 runs after he was stumped by Phelps.
The final wicket set Tamworth’s total to 138.
Narrabri’s run chase got off to a rocky start with captain Cameron dismissed for just seven balls.
Daniel Hamilton entered the crease with the score at 1-12 but he was dismissed for one run shortly after leaving Nick Smart and Ty Baker on the pitch as the score read 2-15.
A 46-run partnership between Baker and Smart ensued and came at a crucial time for the visitors.
With twelve minutes before the scheduled lunch break Baker fell for 17 runs making the score 3-61.
Knight came to the crease and held on until lunch.
It was the duo’s partnership after lunch that was the most significant for Narrabri.
It took the side from an uncertain total to 3-124 before Smart’s impressive batting performance came to an end.
Smart was eventually dismissed for a terrific game-high score of 76 runs from 87 balls.
Smart’s wicket took the score to 4-124 with Narrabri needing 14 runs to wrap up the contest.
Knight would not contribute another run after Smart’s dismissal as he was bowled for 19 runs which made the score 5-125.
Sargent and Phelps would take the Pink Slugs to within eight of the runs required before Phelps fell for six runs.
Lees would be next to the crease but he faced one ball with no runs before Sargent secured the victory.
Sargent’s last shot was an emphatic four to complete a wonderful game for Narrabri.
The side’s round two match will come against Inverell on November 10.
To order photos from this page click here
