Civeo reaches second grade decider with a 51-run win

Luke Baker’s Civeo second XI has put three tough seasons behind itself to qualify for the 2020-21 Narrabri District Cricket Association second grand final.

The side, named Crossroads Hotel until this year, won the 2016-17 grand final before suffering a dry spell in which it won just five of its 23 one day matches across the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.

The team has well and truly bounced back this season. It won four of its nine matches to qualify for Saturday’s preliminary final where it met the Western Razorbacks, which also went into the contest having won four games.

Civeo got the job done in style at Hogan Oval with a 51-run win.

It batted first after Baker won the toss and the side set the Razorbacks 108 to chase after scoring 107 runs in 31.5 overs.

Number three batsman Tim Hayne top-scored with 33, while number four batsman Bob Ford (11) chipped in with the only other double digit score.

In reply, the Razorbacks could only manage to score 56 runs in 24.1 overs before losing their final wicket.

All five bowlers used by Civeo took at least one wicket to help their side claim a memorable victory.

Openers Baker (2-10 from six overs) and Elsie Ford (1-6 from six overs including three maidens) laid the platform early to knock over Razorbacks’ top three Travis Couley (0), Dustyn Allen (6) and Scott Smith (3) to make the score 3-9 in the ninth over.

Dumi Weerasignhe (3-14 from five overs) then made his mark on the match. He bowled Brandon Couley (3) to make the score 4-18 in the 14th over, then ran out DJ Allen, (12) in the 19th over.

That made the score 5-34, which became 7-41 in the 20th when Weerasignhe knocked over Brendon Smith (10) and Curtis Orcher (0).

The eighth wicket was taken by David McInnes (1-23 from 7.1 overs)who bowled Mark Rottger (0) in the 21st over, then Weerasignhe provided an assist for the ninth when he caught Shane Robinson (11) from the bowling of Sudintha Perera (1-1 from one over) in the 24th.

The match was all over in the 25th when Mitch Foster ran out Noah Mace (0) to secure to win for Civeo which will now play RSL in the decider.