RSL on top of the NDCA first grade one day ladder after defeating Tatts

For the second consecutive weekend, last season’s two grand finalists were defeated by the two teams which missed out on the 2019-20 decider as RSL and Civeo prevailed against Tatts and the Western Razorbacks in round five of the 2020-21 Narrabri District Cricket Association’s one day first grade campaign on Saturday.

RSL took on Tatts at Collins Park and downed the defending champions by 65 runs. RSL batted first and made 121 runs before losing its final wicket in the 44th over. It then knocked over Tatts for just 56 runs in 29.1 overs.

In the other round five match, Civeo and the Western Razorbacks went head-to-head at Collins Park for the first time since the 2019-20 preliminary final which the Razorbacks won by one run at Hogan Oval.

At the same venue on Saturday, Civeo defeated the Wee Waa-based side by five wickets. The Razorbacks batted first in that match and scored 93 runs before losing their 10th and final wicket in the 41st over. Civeo then lost five wickets before reaching the required total in the 27th over of its chase.

RSL’s 65-run win saw it move into outright first place on the NDCA first grade one day ladder following three wins, a washout draw and a loss to start the season. It lost its first game in round one on October 17, then bounced back to win three straight games following the washed out round two fixture.

In Saturday’s round five victory, Zaac Brayshaw (26) was the only top five batsman from RSL to reach double figures and when he departed in the 26th over the score became 5-62.

RSL lost three more wickets while adding just 23 runs to the total as the score became 8-85 after 37 overs.

Shane Murphy and Craig Summers then combined for 35 runs which was the side’s largest partnership of the day and took it past 100 runs. Summers (18) was eventually dismissed in the 44th over and Murphy finished unbeaten with a match-high 37 runs.

Tatts skipper Ryan O’Neill (2-12 from nine overs), and fellow bowlers Sid Harvey (2-12 from four overs), Brock Schwager (2-19 from nine overs), Anthony Schwager (2-24 from four overs) and Jake Packer (2-36 from nine overs) all took two wickets each.

RSL’s defence started in ideal fashion as Nathan Trindall dismissed Jacob Nichols (2) with the second ball of the innings.

Trindall (3-20 from nine overs) and bowling partners Jake Brayshaw (2-5 from four overs), Cooper Brayshaw (2-9 from five overs) Jarrett Tough (2-11 from six overs) and Matt Tubner (1-0 from 0.1 overs) went on to rip through the Tatts batting lineup to secure the 65-run win.

Harvey top scored with 17 from number four for the chasing side, while Jake Rumsby (11) was the only other Tatts batsman to reach double figures.

In the other match, the Razorbacks’ two openers Toby Reynolds (19) and Ty Baker (14) and number three batsman Hadley Sevil (12) all reached double figures, but their only other teammate to do so was Clay Hoffman who finished unbeaten on 10 as the side fell seven runs short of triple figures.

Civeo’s Jade Lees took a game-best 4-18 from nine overs, while teammates Jordyn Mowle (2-4 from two overs), Chris Sargent (2-12 from nine overs) and Jock Small (2-23 from five overs) all took two wickets each.

Civeo lost three quick wickets as Nick Smart (0), Mowle (4) and Riley Jenkins (0) all departed in the first two overs as the score became 3-8.

When Lachlan Cameron (12) was caught by Hoffman in the Brenton Cochrane-bowled eighth over, the score was 4-34 and the Razorbacks were on top.

However, Civeo only lost one more wicket before reaching the required total as Matt Conroy (31*), Chris Sargent (26) and Luke Meppem (8*) all stood up to guide their side to the five-wicket win.

Hoffman (2-9 from three overs), Cochrane (2-34 from nine overs) and Harry Pattison (1-20 from three overs) took the wickets for the Razorbacks.

In the second grade matches, Tourist Hotel and Western Razorbacks were victorious.

Tourist Hotel took on Civeo at Leitch Oval and scored an eight-wicket win. Civeo batted first and made 80 runs before losing its final wicket from the final ball of the innings. Tourist Hotel then chased that down in less than 17 overs while losing just two wickets.

At Dangar Park in Wee Waa, the Razorbacks also scored an eight-wicket win. Tatts batted first and made 115 runs which the Razorbacks chased down for the loss of two wickets in the 17th over.