Western Razorbacks’ first XI beats Tatts by 77 runs in round six

Western Razorbacks snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday when it defeated Tatts in round six of the Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2020-21 one day first grade competition at Collins Park.

The victory saw the Razorbacks move to 27 points at the top of the table alongside both Civeo and RSL.

The Razorbacks and Civeo entered the round just one win adrift of RSL, then the Razorbacks’ win combined with Civeo’s defeat of RSL saw all three teams finish the weekend on a level playing field. Defending champions Tatts is currently last on 15 points.

At Collins Park on Saturday, both teams were missing several first grade regulars and it was the Razorbacks which were able to overcome that to score a dominant 77-run win.

The Wee Waa-based side batted first after skipper Justin Knight won the toss. Knight opened the batting and scored a match-best 33 to help guide his team to 130 runs. The Razorbacks lost its last wicket in the 36th over of the innings.

Middle order batsmen Daniel Hamilton (15), Hadley Sevil (25) and Nathan Hamblin (11) all reached double digit scores from number five, six and eight respectively to help their side reach a defendable total.

The Razorbacks were also boosted by 24 wides bowled by Tatts.

Jesse Nancarrow was Tatts’ best with the ball with 3-36 from seven overs.

Tatts fielded with 10 players for the majority of the Razorbacks innings but was forced to bat with nine players after Michael Leven suffered a knee injury in the field.

The chasing side reached 53 runs before losing its final wicket in the 15th over.

The Razorbacks’ opening bowler Zack Trindall ripped through the Tatts top order, dismissing the first three batsmen.

He took his first wicket in the third over when he trapped Nancarrow (1) in front to make the score 1-10.

That became 2-18 in the fifth over when Trindall trapped Sid Harvey (2) in front.

Tatts opener Alistair Hillard and number four batsman and debutant Charlie Simkin put on a 28-run third-wicket partnership, which was the side’s biggest during the innings.

It was broken in the 11th over when Trindall bowled Hillard for a team-best 18. That made the score 3-43 and started a collapse which saw the chasing side lose 6-10.

The 12th over was bowled by Nathan Hamblin who bowled Eben Botha (3) to make the score 4-46, which became 5-48 in the 13th over when Simkin (16) was caught behind by Hadley Sevil from the bowling of Clay Hoffman.

In the 14th over Hamblin found himself on a hat-trick after removing Kahl (2) who was caught by Chris Binge, and bowling Brock Schwager for a golden duck. Josh Rose entered at nine for Tatts and survived the hat-trick ball, but departed the following over when he was caught by Binge from the bowling of Hoffman for two runs.

Tatts’ Waldo Botha (2) remained unbeaten at the close of innings.

Trindall (3-17 from six overs) was the Razorbacks’ best with the ball and earned three NDCA best and fairest points for a man-of-the-match performance.

Hamblin finished with 3-20 from four overs while Hoffman’s 2-2 came from just 1.3 overs.

In round seven on Saturday, the Western Razorbacks will take on RSL at Hogan Oval, while Tatts will attempt to end a four-game losing streak when it plays Civeo at Collins Park.