RSL cruises past Tatts to remain undefeated

Narrabri RSL Cricket Club’s first XI are Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2023/24 first grade campaign ladder leaders and the only undefeated side remaining after two rounds following a convincing six-wicket win against Tatts at Leitch Oval on Saturday.

The two sides went into that match off the back of round one victories, determined to stay unbeaten and go two from two.

Tatts batted first after being sent in by RSL’s skipper Jarrett Tough and the side made 120 runs before losing their final wicket in the 35th over. In reply, RSL reached the required total just four wickets down in the 24th over to claim the seven points and climb above Tatts into first.

After missing RSL’s opening round grand final rematch victory against Tourist Hotel at Collins Park, Tough was immense on Saturday in round two as he produced a player-of-the-match performance to earn the three NDCA best and fairest points. He backed up his decision to field first with a brilliant nine-over spell that saw him knock over Tatts’ top four batsmen and finish with 4-40, and he then went on to top-score with the bat in the second innings with a game-best 33 runs.

He got the ball rolling in the first innings with a wicket-maiden in the fourth over to remove Tatts opener Hugh Lennon (7) and make the score 1-14.

Tough’s teammate Rowan Keeler provided the assist for that wicket with a catch, and the pair combined again in the 10th over to knock over Lennon’s replacement Karl Hatfield (5) as the score became 2-28.

Tough bowled Tom Cameron (6) in the 12th over and he saved his best until last as he produced a brilliant diving catch off his own bowling in the 14th to dismiss opposite skipper Jakeb Nipperess (20).

That left Josh Campbell at the crease with Craig Gleeson, and the veteran duo combined for their side’s largest partnership of the day as they put on 29 runs together. Gleeson scored seven of those before he was caught behind by Zaac Brayshaw in the Cody Kember-bowled 23rd over as the score became 5-70.

Tatts reached 93 runs before losing their next wicket in the 27th over as Kember took his second scalp with an assist from Jake Thurston to remove Campbell for a team-high score of 32.

That was the start of a mini-collapse that saw Tatts lose 3-2 as Ed Curall (9) was run out by Keeler and then Brinley Davis (0) was bowled by Kember as the score became 8-95 in the 29th.

Cooper Brayshaw then came back for a second spell after bowling six overs earlier in the innings, and the opening bowler claimed the final two wickets as he bowled Tom Eather (8) and Josh Rose (3) as Tatts finished on 120 in 34.5 overs.

Will Seyffer remained unbeaten on 13 runs for the batting side.

Tough (4-40 off nine overs), Kember (3-12 off nine overs) and Brayshaw (2-25 off 8.5 overs) were the RSL side’s wicket-takers.

Tough and youngster Will Ford then opened for RSL in the second innings, and they combined for a 61-run first-wicket partnership that lasted almost 14 overs before Hatfield trapped Ford (23) in front.

RSL went into the 15-over drinks break cruising at 1-73, but Hatfield halted their momentum in the 16th when he produced a wicket maiden, during which he bowled Tough (33) to make the score 2-73.

Zaac Brayshaw (20*) was the anchor for the remainder of the innings as he remained unbeaten to guide RSL home to victory.

Bernard O’Connor (19) was run out by Nipperess in the 22nd over and then Kember (1) was caught by Campbell in the Hatfield-bowled 24th over while trying to finish the game with a maximum.

That made the score 4-115, and then Cooper Brayshaw entered the middle and scored two boundaries in three deliveries as RSL chased down the required total with 21.2 overs and six wickets to spare.

Hatfield (3-30 off 5.4 overs) was Tatts’ only wicket-taking bowler in that innings.

Joining Tough as NDCA best and fairest points recipients from that game were RSL’s Zaac Brayshaw, who earned two, and Tatts’ Campbell, who secured one.

Tatts will look to bounce back from that loss this Saturday as they play at Leitch Oval for a third consecutive week when they challenge Tourist Hotel for the first time this season in round three.

Tourist won their round two contest by 90 runs over Western Razorbacks at Collins Park after defending 170 runs.

RSL will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the new campaign and go three from three when they challenge the winless Razorbacks at Collins Park this Saturday.