Tatts’ finals hopes take a hit following round 13 washouts

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2020-21 one day season round 13 matches were washed out and declared draws on Saturday.

For a second consecutive weekend, players arrived at their respective grounds ready to play but rain began to fall and which forced both first and second grade matches to be abandoned.

All teams received four points, with the exception of Civeo in second grade which received seven as it had the bye.

In first grade, Tatts and the Western Razorbacks were set to meet at Leitch Oval.

That match would have seen Tatts battle to keep its season alive. Had the match been played and Tatts had won, the side would have moved to within one win of the third-placed Razorbacks with two matches remaining.

But if the Razorbacks had won, Tatts would have finished the round three wins behind the Wee Waa-based side and unable to finish third and qualify for the finals.

Now, the defending champions still have the chance to clinch third place. To secure a preliminary final spot, Tatts must win its last two matches and it needs the Razorbacks to lose both of theirs. That would see Tatts finish locked on 48 points with the Razorbacks and net run rate percentage would determine which side qualifies for the preliminary final.

The Razorbacks require just one win from their last two matches to ensure they finish in third place, but they can also lose both and still place third.

In the other first grade match scheduled for round 13, RSL and Civeo were scheduled to meet in a top-of-the-table clash at Collins Park to battle for outright first place on the ladder. But as a result of the washouts, both teams finished the round on 64 points and they do not meet again in the regular season.

RSL is currently ranked first on net run rate percentage, and will likely finish first if it wins its remaining two games.

Civeo can clinch top spot if it wins one game to RSL’s none, or two to RSL’s one, or both sides win the same amount of games and Civeo increases its net run rate percentage.

This Saturday in round 14, RSL will take on the Razorbacks at Collins Park, while Civeo and Tatts will go head-to-head at Leitch Oval.

In second grade in round 13, RSL travelled to Wee Waa to challenge the Razorbacks while Tatts and Tourist were scheduled to play at Hogan Oval.

Both were washed out, although the Wee Waa match began and was five overs old with RSL at 1-21 before the rain began to fall and forced the players off the field.

After round 13, RSL (76 points) is first, Civeo (61 points) is second, the Razorbacks (58 points) are third, and Tatts and Tourist (52 points each) are fourth and fifth.

This Saturday in round 14, Tourist takes on RSL at Hogan Oval, while Civeo and Tatts meet at Gately Field. The Razorbacks have the bye and can finish the round in second place if Civeo loses.