100-run victory sees Razorbacks end the one day season unbeaten

Wilga Hotel Razorbacks ended the Narrabri District Cricket Association 2024/25 season first grade one day competition as the undefeated minor premiers following a seventh straight 40-over win on Saturday afternoon.

It was an emphatic one too as the Razorbacks defeated Tourist Hotel by 100 runs in their round nine clash at Collins Park.

Wilga Hotel batted first after their skipper Matt Bradshaw had won the toss and they made 9-193 in 40 overs before knocking over the chasing side for 93 runs in 29.5 overs.

That saw the Razorbacks end the season on 57 points following seven wins and two washed-out draws, three victories clear of the second-placed defending champions RSL (39), who were also victorious in round nine.

The Razorbacks changed up their batting and bowling orders to give everyone a chance to sharpen up for the March 15 decider but they still won with ease against an understrength Tourist side that had three players on debut and several of their key players away.

Tourist Hotel did manage to take an early wicket when skipper Luke Meppem held onto a catch to dismiss Pat Hubbard (1) in the John Lawlor-bowled fourth over to make the score 1-6.

The Razorbacks then lost back-to-back wickets in the 12th and 13 overs as Jack Maunder (17) was caught by Chase Harrington from the bowling of Danny Laws and Meppem took another grab to dismiss Dylan Smith (0) from the bowling of Harrington.

Meppem threw Dan Treseder the ball for the 21st over and the Tourist debutant, who was playing his first game of cricket in 12 years, struck twice as he knocked over Ben Sevil (16) with the assistance of a Meppem catch and bowled Nathan Hamblin for a duck.

That made the score 5-65, which then became 6-78 in the 25th over when Treseder caught Bradshaw (2) from his own bowling to claim a third wicket.

That brought the in-form Jack Tate to the crease and he put on a 33-run partnership with Mark Rottger (18) to take the Razorbacks past 100 and then a 55-run partnership with Angus Galagher (36) to take them past 150.

Ambrose Farquhar (1) was the ninth Razorbacks batsman to depart before Tate (44*) and Greg Melton (15*) guided their side to 9-193.

Treseder was Tourist’s best with the ball with 3-19 from three overs.

The chasing side started positively as Meppem and Kaleb Mowle opened the batting and put on a 30-run first-wicket partnership, which ended in the 10th over when Mowle (7) was bowled by Guy Percy.

The Razorbacks made it a double blow when Ed Pavey (1) departed the following over after being caught by Bradshaw from the bowling of Smith.

Meppem and Lucas Hogan then put on 29 runs together to take Tourist to 60 runs, but their downfall began in the Hamblin-bowled 19th over when Hogan (14) was caught by Tate.

That started a collapse that they could not recover from as they lost 7-33 to end up all out on 93 with one delivery remaining in the 30th over.

They only lost nine wickets in the end but Mark Page did not bat due to injury.

Meppem (34) was Tourist’s best with the bat and Hogan’s only teammate to have reached double figures, while Smith (3-19 from seven overs, which included a double-wicket-maiden) was Wilga’s best with the ball.

Hamblin (2-11 from five overs), Tate (2-21 from six overs), Percy (1-12 from five overs) and Rottger (1-12 from three overs) combined for the other six wickets.

While the Razorbacks now get this Saturday off to freshen up for the grand final, Tourist Hotel will be back in action at Collins Park when they meet RSL in the preliminary final.

Tourist Hotel ended up finishing third on the ladder, and they will be automatically eliminated if the rain that is forecasted for later this week and into the weekend eventuates and washes the match out, which would see RSL progress.