Three teams remain in the Super Slog grand final hunt going into the final round

There is one round remaining in the Narrabri District Cricket Association 2022/23 campaign Coates Hire T20 Super Slog competition following a round four and five double header on Friday and Saturday nights.

Three teams remain in grand final contention, with Priag Patriots, J and D Weed Management and Specialised Civil Services all locked on 23 points each, having all won three games and lost twice so far this season.

WTC Group trails that trio 12 points following a win and four losses and cannot qualify for a third straight grand final appearance, regardless of this Friday’s round six results.

Priag Patriots enter the final round with form on their side, having won both of their games during the double header.

The defending champs beat WTC Group by three wickets at Collins Park on Friday night and then downed Specialised Civil Services by 69 runs at Hogan Oval on Saturday.

The other round four match was won by Specialised Civil Services at Hogan Oval on Friday night, which beat J and D Weed Management by five wickets.

The J and D men bounced back the following evening when they downed WTC Group by 46 runs at Collins Park.

At Collins Park on Friday night, WTC Group lined up with eight players for its batting innings and, as expected, struggled to post a defendable total. The side managed to score 64 runs before losing its seventh and final wicket in the 13th over.

Openers Steve Phelps (24) and Matt Conroy (15) were the only players to reach double figures for WTC Group in that innings, while Hamish Duncan (2-13 from three overs) was the Priag Patriots’ best with the ball.

The Patriots got off to a flying start in the second innings of the game when Josh Trindall blasted three fours and a six inside the opening five deliveries before being caught for 18 runs.

That wicket started a collapse as the Priag Patriots lost 6-17 and found themselves struggling at 6-36.

However, Nathan Trindall entered at number eight and scored a team-best unbeaten 20 to guide his side to a three-wicket win.

Matt Conroy (4-8 from three overs) produced the best bowling spell of the match in that innings.

In the other round four game that was played at Hogan Oval, J and D Weed Management was also short as it fielded 10 players.

The side batted first and made 77 runs before losing its final wicket in the last over.

It was struggling at 6-38 in the 12th over after opener Michael Hewett (13) was the only batsman in the top and middle order to reach double figures.

However, Mitch Foster entered at number nine and top-scored with 23 runs to help his team reach 77.

Specialised Civil Services’ openers Jordan Doolan (14) and Hadley Sevil (13) and number three batsman Karl Hatfield (25) all made starts for their side and laid the platform for what was a comfortable win.

The team did lose five wickets, but it reached the required total in the 18th over.

Gareth Lamond took 2-22 from four overs in that innings and was J and D Weed Management’s best with the ball.

At Collins Park on Saturday night, J and D Weed Management’s skipper Luke Meppem won the toss and chose to bat first against WTC Group.

Meppem’s men came out firing and made 2-142 in 20 overs.

It was an innings that was inspired by the competition’s top run-scorer Nick Tomlinson (60*), who opened and was unable to be dismissed as he posted his second half century of the season.

Only Mitch Foster (12) and Greg Melton (33) fell in that innings, and Mark Page finished unbeaten with 16.

WTC Group’s Darcy Anderson (2-17 from four overs) claimed both of his team’s wickets.

WTC Group was struggling at 5-52 in the 13th over of its chase before the innings was given life by Will Ford, who entered at number six and smashed three fours and three sixes to give his men some hope.

However, he eventually departed for 35 during a WTC Group collapse which saw the side lose 5-6 to finish on 96 runs.

Matt Tubner (3-28 from three overs) was J and D Weed Management’s best with the ball.

In the other match at Hogan Oval, Priag Patriots lost the toss against Specialised Civil Services and were sent into bat.

The Patriots made 6-122 in 20 overs and then bowled the opposition team out for 53 in 14.5 overs.

Priag openers Hamish Duncan (10) and Jake Brayshaw (18) made starts for their side, and the next two men to enter were even more dominant.

Bernard O’Connor arrived to the middle at number three and scored a match-best 46, and captain Cooper Brayshaw was in at number four and scored 41 runs.

Jye Manton filled in as captain for the Specialised Civil Services side in the absence of Lachlan Woolford, and he stood up with team-best bowling figures of 2-10 from three overs.

The chasing innings was a struggle from start to finish for the Specialised Civil Services men, who could not get any partnership off the ground to give their side momentum.

Only Jay Hall (13*) reached double figures for the team from number 10.

Nathan Trindall (4-5 from four overs) and Brayshaw (4-6 from 1.5 overs) produced dominant spells in that second innings.

The sixth and final round this Friday night will see WTC Group challenge Specialised Civil Services at Collins Park and J and D Weed Management meet Priag Patriots at Hogan Oval.