RSL second XI enter the mid-season break on a high and on top following a big win

Narrabri RSL Cricket Club head into the mid-season break at the top of the table in Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2023/24 season second grade one day competition following a seven-wicket victory against Tatts on Saturday.

The two sides met at Gately Field for their round eight clash, and Tatts batted first after RSL skipper Justin Saunders won the toss and sent them in. Tatts scored 119 runs before losing their final wicket in the 39th over, and RSL reached the required total just three wickets down in 28 overs.

Tatts duo Chris Hartnett and Ryan Steel opened the batting for their side and they put on a 26-run partnership before Hartnett was bowled from the final delivery of a Luke Baker wicket-maiden in the ninth over.

Baker struck again in the 11th with a second consecutive wicket-maiden to dismiss Tatts’ number three batter Taryn Kirk (0), with the assistance of a Rowan Keeler catch to make the score 2-38.

That became 3-42 during the 12th over when Saunders bowled Steel (30), who was looking in good touch after striking three sixes and a four during his time at the crease.

Those wickets left Rod Kirk at the crease with Tatts skipper Jesse Packer and the duo combined for their side’s greatest partnership of the game as they piled on 45 runs together. Just as they looked set to guide Tatts to a large total, they were dismissed in the 23rd over by Rowan Keeler. Kirk was first to go as he was caught by Gabe O’Connor for a team-high score of 31, and then Packer (13) departed two balls later when he was caught by Mick Dowdell.

That made the score 5-89, and the next five wickets were claimed at the expense of just 30 runs as RSL limited Tatts to 119 runs in 39 overs.

Dowdell and O’Connor claimed a wicket each as Dowdell bowled Jake Cooper (0) and O’Connor bowled Emily Hartnett (4), both during wicket-maidens.

Karan Veer Dhiman then took the final three wickets as he bowled Ben Redfern (14) and then knocked over Bentley and Rhett Myers during a double-wicket-maiden in the 39th over to bring the innings to a close and finish with game-best figures of 3-10 from seven overs.

Baker (2-14 from eight overs) and Keeler (2-23 from five overs) claimed two scalps each, and O’Connor (1-9 from six overs), Dowdell (1-12 from three overs) and Saunders (1-24 from five overs) all took one each.

Tatts came out firing in the second innings of the contest and took three early wickets to make the score 3-18 after seven overs. It was Cooper who made the early breakthrough as he dismissed Veer Dhiman (2) in the fourth over with the assistance of an Emily Hartnett catch, and then Chris Hartnett bowled RSL duo Tyson Gilmore (3) in the fifth over and Geoff Hunter (0) in the seventh.

Those two wickets left opening batsman Max Hunter at the crease with Dowdell, and they combined for a match-winning partnership of 107 runs to guide the chasing side to a seven-wicket victory. The in-form Dowdell top-scored with an unbeaten 70 runs following an innings in which he blasted five sixes and as many fours, while Hunter finished unbeaten on 40 runs, after he too struck five fours.

Chris Hartnett was impressive with the ball during that innings as he finished with 2-7 from eight overs. He bowled three maidens and 42 dot balls in his 48-ball spell.

Following a game in which there were several standout performances, Hunter received the three NDCA best and fairest points, Veer Dhiman was awarded two and the one was given to Steel.

The victory saw RSL remain one win clear at the top of the table as they still lead Tourist Hotel, who had the bye in round eight, by six points. The defending champions have so far accumulated 47 points following four wins, two byes, a washed-out draw and a loss, while Tourist Hotel are on 41 points following three byes, two wins, two losses and a washed-out bye.

Tatts are 15 points behind the ladder leaders on 32 points following one win, three byes and four losses.

RSL are guaranteed to remain at least one win clear at the top when the season resumes next year as they sit out with the round nine bye and pick up an automatic seven points while Tatts and Tourist Hotel meet at Hogan Oval on Saturday, February 3.

That game will be the first of the four remaining rounds ahead of the March 2 preliminary final between the teams that finish ranked second and third, and the March 9 grand final between the minor premiers and the winner of the preliminary final.