RSL doubles up to finish on top of the NDCA second grade T20 ladder

Narrabri RSL Cricket Club has earned the chance to defend the Narrabri District Cricket Association second grade T20 title after qualifying for its third consecutive grand final appearance with two wins on Saturday.

RSL will challenge the Western Razorbacks at Collins Park this Saturday afternoon from 3pm in the 2020-21 decider.

The defending champions played two matches on Saturday, January 16, in the fourth and final round of the regular season. They won both to finish on top of the table as the only undefeated side in the competition.

RSL took on the Western Razorbacks in an afternoon match at Collins Park, which it won by 55 runs.

RSL batted first after winning the toss and put 95 runs on the board from its 20 overs while losing eight wickets, before rolling the Razorbacks for just 40 runs in 12.5 overs.

That result secured RSL a top two position, however its night time fixture against Tourist Hotel gave it the chance to finish undefeated at the top of the table.

It got the job done with a 24-run victory. RSL batted first after winning its second toss of the day and it finished on 5-94 after 20 overs before bowling out Tourist Hotel for 70 runs in 16.1 overs.

In the other round four match, Tatts took on Civeo at Hogan Oval on Saturday night.

Tatts won that match by eight wickets after restricting Civeo to 8-55 in 20 overs, which it chased down in 12.4 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

Those results saw RSL finishing on top of the table with 25 points following three wins and a washout draw.

Placing second to secure the other grand final spot were the Razorbacks with 22 points following three wins and a loss.

Tatts (16 points) finished third after two wins and two losses, Tourist Hotel (10 points) came in fourth after winning once and losing its other three matches, while Civeo (seven points)finished last following three losses and a washed out draw.

RSL’s second grade T20 skipper Justin Saunders told The Courier that he was proud of his side and was confident it could get the job done in Saturday’s grand final.

“Captaining this side is sometimes a little bit hard because we have a team full of batters and bowlers,” Saunders said.

“Sometimes you don’t really know where to put them, but that is also a good problem to have.

“I’m very proud of the guys and what we’ve achieved so far.

“We had a washout in our first game back last year so we only got three games in and the performances have been pretty pleasing.

“I think we are in with a good chance [for Saturday’s grand final]. I think Wee Waa can beat us on their day but we’ve got the team to get the job done.

“Everyone is keen as and ready to go.

“Wee Waa’s biggest strength will be their bowling, so if we bat first we’ll need to be patient, see off their good young bowlers and hopefully put about 100 on

the board.”
RSL has played in the past two NDCA second grade T20 finals, both of which were against Tatts.

RSL lost the 2018-19 decider by six wickets on Saturday, February 2, 2019, before winning the 2019-20 title by two wickets on Saturday, February 1, 2020.

This Saturday’s grand final will see RSL and the Western Razorbacks meet in the short format decider for the first time, however the two teams do have previous grand final history.

RSL and the Razorbacks met in the 2018-19 second grade one day competition grand final, which RSL won convincingly.

Back on March 23, 2019, RSL batted first after winning the toss and it made 7-266 in its 40 overs.

In reply, the Razorbacks could only manage 52 runs before losing their final wicket in the 22nd over, which saw RSL claim a 214-run win.