Dylan Smith wins TDCA grand final with Old Boys

Wee Waa cricket gun Dylan Smith played in his sixth grand final in three seasons at the weekend, the first in the two-day format of the game.

On Sunday evening it was all celebrations for the 18-year-old fast bowler whose Tamworth District Cricket Association team Old Boys won its seventh first grade premiership in eight seasons.

Smith joined the TDCA club this season after spending the previous two playing for the Western Razorbacks in the Narrabri District Cricket Association’s first grade competition.

He tasted early success in Tamworth when Old Boys won the one day grand final back in November.

That was against City United, then on the weekend Old Boys took on the 2020-21 season minor premiers North Tamworth.

Old Boys skipper Ben Middlebrook won the toss and sent Norths into bat which turned out to be a crucial decision in the victory.

Old Boys knocked over Norths for just 74 runs in 58.3 overs and Smith was among the wickets, finishing with an economical 2-22 from 11.3 overs which included four maidens.

Old Boys’ positive start to the match was cancelled out by its first innings in which it could only manage 70 runs before losing its final wicket, which was Smith who bowled for two runs.

At the end of Saturday’s play, Old Boys had taken three more wickets which saw Norths resume at 3-46 on day two on Sunday.

The minor premiers added 67 more runs on Sunday which set Old Boys a total of 118 to win at the end of an innings in which Smith bowled seven overs for another economical return of 0-11.

Old Boys’ gun opening batsman, Central North representative Simon Norvill, then produced a man-of-the-match performance as he guided his side to a five-wicket win with an unbeaten 80 runs from 131 deliveries which included seven fours and two sixes.