Three clubs score wins as second grade short format season begins

Defending champions Tatts, last season’s grand finalists RSL and the Western Imperial Razorbacks all began the 2019-20 Narrabri District Cricket Association second grade T20 campaign with wins on Saturday.

The Razorbacks took on Civeo at Hogan Oval in an evening match which was played under lights.

Civeo batted first after losing the toss, reaching 89 runs at the expense of nine wickets in 20 overs.

The Razorbacks were cruising at 6-85 at the start of the 17th over which meant they required just five runs for victory.

In that over Civeo’s Matt Potter turned the game on its head, taking two wickets at the expense of just two runs to make the score 8-87.

With three overs remaining Civeo needed two wickets to win and the Razorbacks required three runs for victory.

It was the Razorbacks which got the job done with reliable skipper Pat Legge hitting a four to finish off the game, securing a two-wicket win.

Razorbacks’ Jesse Nancarrow earned the three NDCA best and fairest points for a standout performance in which he opened the bowling and finished with 2-22 from four overs which included a wicket maiden, before batting at number five and top scoring for his side with 31.

Civeo’s Potter, who underperformed with the bat with seven runs but starred with the ball with a brilliant 3-6 from four overs which included a maiden, picked up two best and fairest points.

The single point went to Razorbacks’ Clay Hoffman who took 2-11 from four overs.

Crossroads entered the T20 campaign struggling for form following just one win from eight games in the one day competition.

On Saturday they took on RSL at 3pm before backing up to challenge defending champs Tatts at 7pm.

Crossroads went down in both of those games.

Against RSL, Crossroads batted first and totalled 127 runs for the loss of just five wickets, with Sudintha Perera (49) and Tim Hayne (46) the top contributors.

RSL then lost an early wicket as Craig O’Connor (9) was caught in the fourth over making the score 1-16.

But RSL duo Chris Watkins (60*) and Matt Gilmore (43*) combined for a 112-run partnership to guide their side to a nine-wicket win with just three balls to spare in the innings.

In Crossroads’ second game the side fielded first and restricted Tatts to 8-119.

Tatts’ Joey Fowler top scored for his side with a match-high unbeaten 42.

Crossroads reached 80 runs, inspired by opening batsman Andrew McClenaghan (34).

However, the chasing side lost its final wicket of the game in the 17th over as it fell 40 runs short of the required total.

This weekend the Razorbacks take on RSL in the second round of the season.

RSL will play a second game in round two on Saturday evening against Tatts.

In the other evening game Civeo and Crossroads will go head-to-head.