Pink Slugs’ chase cut short at Collins Park in round one

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s representative first XI was denied the chance to chase its way to victory in the first round of the 2021-22 MA Connolly Cup season yesterday afternoon after heavy rain began to fall which forced the Pink Slugs’ match against Gunnedah to be washed out and declared a draw.

The Pink Slugs were well and truly in the match at 3-65, chasing 172 for victory, when a drinks break was called at the completion of the 17th over.

Light rain had been falling for two overs at that stage and it only got heavier as the players left the field.

They never returned, and the two Namoi Conference teams were forced to share the points.

Earlier in the day, NDCA skipper Luke Meppem won the toss and elected to bowl.

The home side’s opening bowlers Dylan Smith and Nathan Trindall got the NDCA men on the front foot early in the contest as they combined to take three wickets in the opening nine overs to make the score 3-19.

Smith claimed the first scalp of the campaign when he dismissed Gunnedah opener Oscar King (5), who was caught by Meppem in the third over of the contest.

Trindall joined in on the action when he bowled Mathew Agostino (2) in the sixth over.

Smith struck again in the ninth over when he dismissed King’s opening partner Justin Carter (5), who was caught behind by Pink Slugs wicketkeeper Lachlan Woolford.

Gunnedah was well and truly on the ropes after losing three wickets and scoring at a lowly 2.2 an over during the first 10. However, experienced duo Mitch Swain and Blake Small were up to the task of getting the innings back on track. They put on a 59-run fourth-wicket partnership which lasted almost 19 overs before a frustrated NDCA side finally made a breakthrough in the 27th over when Cooper Brayshaw claimed the wicket of Small (20), who was also caught behind by gloveman Woolford.

Swain went on to score a game-best 79 runs before Trindall bowled him in the final over of the innings.

Middle-order batsmen Ashley White (17), Sam Doubleday (14) and Jye Hicks (12*) also made handy contributions as Gunnedah batted out the 50 overs to finish on 7-171.

Trindall was the Pink Slugs’ best with the ball with 3-30 from nine overs, while Smith (2-35 from 10 overs) and Brayshaw (1-26 from eight overs) were the other wicket-takers. The other wicket came via a Hamish Duncan runout.

The start to Narrabri’s innings was quite similar to that of its opposition, as the hosts found themselves on 3-29 after nine overs. Openers Hamish Duncan (9) and Shane Murphy (7), and the side’s number four batsman Cody Kember (0) were all dismissed early.

But just as Swain and Small did for Gunnedah, Brayshaw and Meppem wrestled momentum back in the Pink Slugs’ favour with a classy fourth-wicket partnership. They combined for a patient 36-run partnership and finished unbeaten, Brayshaw on 35 and Meppem on six, when heavy rain forced the umpires to call time on the contest as the two sides left the field for the first drinks break.

The match was declared a draw which meant both sides were awarded two points each.

The other Namoi Conference game was won by Tamworth despite that contest also ending early due to rain.

Tamworth hosted the Central North Zone Colts (under-18s) side and put 365 runs on the board before losing its final wicket in the last over of the innings. The chasing side was struggling on 7-150 in the 22nd over when rain forced the players from the field.

Simon Norvill (95) top-scored for Tamworth in the match played at Bicentennial Park (number one oval), while Dan Bryant (81) and Mitch Lincoln (58) also fired with the bat.

Narrabri’s round two opponents Quirindi had the opening round bye yesterday.

The Pink Slugs will travel away from home for their second-round clash, which will be played on Sunday, November 21. Gunnedah will host the CNZ Colts side in round two, and Tamworth will sit out with the bye.

The four Gwydir Conference teams will all play their respective round one games that day.