RSL and Civeo both score first and second grade doubles in round four

RSL Cricket Club and Civeo Cricket Club were victorious in both grades in the fourth round of the 2020-21 Narrabri District Cricket Association one day season on Saturday.

In first grade, RSL scored a seven-wicket win against the Western Razorbacks at Collins Park, while Civeo downed Tatts by three wickets at Hogan Oval.

In second grade, RSL beat Tourist Hotel by 64 runs at Leitch Oval, while Civeo defeated Tatts by 29 runs at Gately Field. The Western Razorbacks had the round four bye in second grade.

RSL’s first XI knocked over the Razorbacks’ first grade team for just 91 runs in the sides’ round four match. RSL then reached the required total in the 30th over for the loss of just three wickets.

The Razorbacks won the toss and batted first in that match and lost 10-65 after openers Ty Baker (13) and Toby Reynolds (8) put on a 26-run first-wicket partnership.

Number three batsman Hadley Sevil top scored for his team with 27 runs, and number four batsman Adam Gordon (13) was the only other Razorback to reach double figures.

RSL’s Nathan Trindall (2-20 from nine overs) dismissed both Razorbacks openers before Cooper Brayshaw (2-18 from seven overs) and his brother Jake Brayshaw (1-9 from six overs) ripped through the middle order. Matt Tubner then took four of the last five wickets to finish with a game-best 4-9 from 3.3 overs.

The other wicket came via a Shane Murphy runout.

RSL’s run chase was a clinical one as it lost just three wickets on the road to victory.

Hamish Duncan opened the batting and scored an unbeaten 46 to finish with the three NDCA best and fairest points, while Murphy (10*) also finished unbeaten.

In the other first grade game, Civeo bowled out Tatts for 148 in 39 overs then chased down the required total in the 32nd over having lost seven wickets.

Tatts’ opening batsman Jake Packer top scored for his side with 40, while the other opener Jacob Nichols (11), number four batsman Luke Morgan (12), number six batsman Craig Gleeson (25), skipper and number seven batsman Ryan O’Neill (11) and number nine batsman Jonty Schwager (24) all reached double figures to guide their side well past 100.

When the 10-man team lost its ninth and final wicket in the 39th over, it had scored 148 runs.

Four Civeo bowlers took wickets in that innings. Opener Mitch Clifton (3-29 from 7.3 overs) and spinner Jade Lees (3-31 from 6.3 overs) took three wickets each, co-captain Lachlan Cameron (2-14 from five overs) claimed two and opener Joel Hogan (1-24 from eight overs) took the other.

Civeo’s batting line-up was boosted by the return of Nick Smart who opened the batting and formed a formidable top five alongside fellow opener Cameron, Matt Conroy at three, Riley Jenkins at four and co-captain Luke Meppem at five.

Smart and Cameron combined for a 40-run first-wicket partnership before Cameron (24) became the first to fall.

Conroy (1) and Meppem (1) failed to fire, however Smart scored a game-high 57 runs and Jenkins added an unbeaten 27 to take the chasing side past 100 and closer to the 149-run target.

Jake Thurston chipped in with 10 runs from number seven before he was dismissed, then in the 32nd over when the scores were tied, Jenkins scored the winning run to secure his side a three-wicket win.

Tatts’ best with the ball was Jakeb Nipperess who took 2-15 from four overs, while Packer (2-33 from seven overs) was the side’s only other multiple wicket taker.

In an entertaining second grade match, RSL won the toss and batted first in its round four contest and finished its 40 overs on 8-144 before knocking over Tourist Hotel for 80 in 20.4 overs.

RSL’s Will Ford was named man-of-the-match for the second week in a row following more individual brilliance. After dominating in his side’s 109-run round three win against the Western Razorbacks with 52 runs and 4-4 from 2.5 overs, Ford produced another sensational performance in round four, scoring an unbeaten 22 with the bat before taking a hat-trick during RSL’s defence and finishing with an economical 3-9 from five overs.

Tourist Hotel’s opening batsman Lachlan Woolford scored a match-high 47 runs for his side but the rest of his 10 teammates combined for just 28 runs as the chasing team fell 65 runs short of victory.

Like RSL, Civeo also won the toss and elected to bat in its second grade match.

Civeo piled on 170 runs for the loss of seven wickets in its 40 overs, then restricted Tatts to 141 runs before taking the match-winning wicket in the 39th over.

Two Civeo veterans wound back the clock to help guide their side to the uncatchable 170-run total.

Bob Ford scored 30 runs from number three, before Tony Meppem entered at number seven and scored 43 runs.

Dumi Weerasinghetop scored for Civeo with 57, and skipper Luke Baker scored an unbeaten 11.

Tatts’ best with the ball was co-captain Bill Wood who took 2-10 from six overs.

The side’s other co-captain, Michael Hewett, was the standout with the bat as he top scored for Tatts with 35.

However, his side could only manage 141 runs before losing its final wicket.

Civeo’s Baker (3-13 from eight overs) and Weerasinghe (3-27 from six overs) were their team’s best with the ball, backing up from impressive efforts with the bat.

This Saturday, four NDCA one day competition round five matches will be contested.

In first grade, Tatts will take on RSL at Collins Park while the Western Razorbacks challenge Civeo at Hogan Oval.

Those sides will play against one another for the first time after their round three matchups were cancelled and called a draw due to wet weather.

In second grade, Tatts will challenge Western Razorbacks at Dangar Park in Wee Waa, while Tourist Hotel and Civeo go head-to-head at Gately Field. RSL has the round five second grade bye.