For the first time in the 2019-20 Namoi Super Slog competition Priag Marketing has moved into a top two position on the ladder.

The Lachlan Cameron-captained side entered the fourth round of the comp in third place and leapfrogged Specialised Civil Services – the side it beat in round four of the Narrabri District Cricket Association’s premier T20 competition.

Priag Marketing scored a seven-run victory to win its second consecutive game as Specialised Civil Services slumped to its second straight loss.

After a massive win in round three against Rose Pest Control, Priag Marketing skipper Cameron commended his side and told The Courier that it was a boost to the team’s net run rate which could benefit them later in the competition.

That proved to be a correct prediction just days later, with the side moving level on 16 points with Specialised Civil Services but moving into second spot on net run rate.

The two sides went head-to-head at Hogan Oval on Friday evening in their second match against one another this season.

The two sides created an intriguing rivalry in round one when Specialised Civil Services scored a five-run win in a match which went down to the final ball.

Their round four clash was just as entertaining as the two sides battled in another game which went down to the final over.

Priag Marketing batted first after Cameron won the toss and he and Jade Lees got the team off to a flying start with a 71-run first wicket partnership.

Cameron was eventually dismissed for 29 and Lees scored 35, before the team’s third batsman Josh Trindall closed the innings with an unbeaten match-high 37.

Chris Watkins (16), Angus Galagher (1) and Dylan Smith (6*) were the only other batsmen used as Priag Marketing finished its 20 overs on 4-135.

Specialised Civil Services’ Nick Smart (25) and Hadley Sevil (6) opened the batting for their side and were both dismissed by outstanding diving catches, Smart by Cameron from the bowling of Smith in the fourth over and Sevil by Hoffman in the Lees-bowled fifth over.

Those wickets made the score 2-38 and left Daniel Hamilton and Luke Meppem at the crease.

After five overs the score was 2-47 with the match well and truly in the balance.

However within a matter of minutes Priag Marketing’s Dylan Smith had turned the game on its head with a remarkable sixth over where he took a double hat-trick and conceded no runs.

Smith bowled Meppem (0) with the second ball of the over before bowling Jake Thurston for a golden duck.

He then trapped Sargent in front for a golden duck to celebrate the hat-trick, before bowling Shane Robinson for a golden duck to make it four in a row.

After that over the score had become 6-47.

Specialised Civil Services captain Craig Gleeson then steadied the ship with a team-best 32 from 42 deliveries to give his side a fighting chance at 8-121 with seven deliveries remaining.

But from the last ball of the 19th over Gleeson was run out which meant his side entered the final over requiring 14 runs to win with just one wicket in hand.

Lees bowled that over and he was smashed for a six by Hughes from his first ball to set up a grandstand finish. However, Hughes (8) was caught by Smith from the next delivery as Priag Marketing held on to win by seven runs.

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