NDJCA under-15s team demolishes Tamworth to book a home semi-final

Narrabri District Junior Cricket Association’s under-15s rep side scored a massive win in the fifth and final round of the 2020 Central North under-15s intertown junior cricket competition on Sunday.

The NDJCA team took on Tamworth Blue at Kitchener Oval, Gunnedah, and won by nine wickets.

Tamworth Blue won the toss and batted first and lost all 10 wickets inside 21 overs while scoring 46 runs. Narrabri lost a wicket early in its chase before chasing down the required total in 15.3 overs.

The performance was an outstanding one by a group of youngsters who continue to improve significantly as a team and as individuals year after year.

The Sid Harvey-captained NDJCA team dominated with both bat and ball, but what was most impressive was its performance and effort in the field. There were three run outs and two catches, one of which was a magnificent take from Alistair Wheeler which brought the Tamworth innings to an end.

With the ball, all five bowlers used took at least one wicket. Jonty Fowler finished with 2-3 from five overs which included four maidens, Sanchit Jagadeesan took 2-7 from five overs which included two maidens, Sid Harvey took 1-6 from five overs which included two maidens, Noah Mace took 1-22 from five overs which included a maiden, and Lucas Hogan took the last wicket of the innings with his fourth delivery to finish with 1-4 from 0.4 overs.

With the bat, Sid (25*) and Bernard O’Connor (16*) got the job done after Jonty (0) fell early in the innings.

The NDJCA side topped its pool following Sunday’s win. It finished the five-match regular season undefeated with three wins, a draw and a bye.

The team’s round one match, which was scheduled to be played on Sunday, October 25 against Maitland Gold, was washed out and declared a draw.

In round two on Sunday, November 1, NDJCA defeated Upper Hunter by seven wickets at Wolseley Oval, Gunnedah.

It then made it back-to-back wins with a 147-run win against Gunnedah at Collins Park, Narrabri, in round three on Sunday, November 8.

The side then had the round four bye before demolishing Tamworth Blue in Gunnedah on Sunday in the fifth and final round.

Finishing on top of the Navy Pool table earned the NDJCA team the right to host its December 6 semi-final at Collins Park. It will take on second-placed Red Pool team Inverell in that match.

In the other semi-final, top-ranked Red Pool team Maitland Maroon will host second-placed Navy Pool side Upper Hunter.

The winner of those two semi-finals will meet in the December 13 grand final.