Pink Slugs demolish Moree to continue their brilliant start

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s representative first XI continued their sensational start to the MA Connolly Cup campaign with an emphatic 156-run victory away from home against Moree on Sunday.

Two weeks after they kicked off the season with a dominant 287-run win on home soil against Gwydir, the Pink Slugs made another clear statement to their six opponents in the Northern Inland Cricket Council competition after they batted first and scored 9-234 in 50 overs in Moree before bowling the hosts out for 78 in 34.3 overs.

It was a victory that saw the NDCA men finish the round on top of the table, with Tamworth the only other side to have kicked off the campaign with two wins from as many matches.

They won their round one fixture by forfeit against Armidale and then beat Gunnedah at Kitchener Oval in their second-round game on Sunday.

In Moree, the Narrabri Pink Slugs batted first after their captain Nathan Trindall won the toss, and openers Hamish Duncan and Will Ford saw out Moree’s opening bowlers as the scoreboard read 0-23 after nine overs.

However, Tim Rava replaced Tom Britton in the 10th over and struck immediately as he bowled Ford (6) to make the score 1-23.

Duncan was joined by his Tourist Hotel teammate Nick Tomlinson in the middle and they combined for a 30-run stand to get the visitors back on the front foot before Rava struck again in the 16th over as he bowled Tomlinson (18).

The Pink Slugs entered the 17-over drinks break at 2-55, which became 3-57 during the 18th over when Rava claimed his third scalp of the day as he knocked over Cooper Brayshaw (2), and then Duncan (22) went the next over when he was caught from the bowling of Callum Cooper.

The NDCA side’s collapse continued during the 20th over as Greg Melton (4) became Rava’s fourth victim, with his stumping making the score 5-63 as Moree had gained the ascendancy by taking 4-10 in five overs.

The Pink Slugs desperately needed someone to stand up and take control of the game, and Josh Schwager did exactly that as he steadied the ship with a match-high score of 62.

The Western Razorbacks gun put on a 33-run partnership with Tatts skipper Jakeb Nipperess (13), and he was then joined by Razorbacks teammate Matt Bradshaw during the 27th over, with the duo putting on a 78-run partnership to take the visitors towards 200.

Schwager (62) eventually departed in the 43rd over when he was trapped in front by Britton, but Bradshaw was able to continue to fire as he scored a half century and managed to finish the innings unbeaten on 52 runs.

Cody Kember (18) also chipped in late to help the Pink Slugs reach 9-234 following a 46-run partnership with Bradshaw.

Rava (4-29 from eight overs) was Moree’s best with the ball and Tom Vanderstock (3-44 from nine overs) was the other multiple wicket-taker, while Cooper (1-12 from three overs) and Britton (1-44 from 10 overs) claimed the other two.

The Pink Slugs came out firing in the second innings and once again it was Cooper Brayshaw who did the damage with the ball as the RSL quick claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many matches after bowling five of Moree’s top six.

He claimed a wicket with his third delivery of the day as he knocked over Moree opener Matt Lather for a duck to make the score 1-5 in the second over of the innings, and then removed his replacement Ed Montgomery (3) during a wicket-maiden in the sixth over.

The in-form Pink Slug’s next victim was Vanderstock (0) during the eighth over, and then he sent both Darren Bourke (13) and Lachlan Elworthy (0) packing in the 12th over to make the score 5-20.

Trindall had also bowled well at the other end for no return, and he was finally rewarded when he took a well-deserved wicket in the 13th over as he bowled Callum Cooper (1) to make the score 6-20.

The Moree lower order provided some late resistance to guide their side past 50, but Duncan had claimed the final four scalps by the first ball of the 35th over as the Pink Slugs scored a massive 156-run win.

Duncan finished the game with 4-15 from 7.3 overs, only to be outdone by his cousin, Brayshaw, who finished with a game-best 5-27 from 10 overs.

Captain Trindall also impressed with 1-19 from 10 overs.

The Pink Slugs will have the next two weekends off rep cricket before they welcome Armidale during round three of the Connolly Cup campaign at Collins Park on Sunday, November 26.

They will host Quirindi on Sunday, December 10, in round four before travelling to Tamworth a week later in round five.

Their round six game will be played in Gunnedah on Sunday, January 21, and they have the bye in the seventh and final round of the regular season on Sunday, February 4.