Wilga Hotel Razorbacks on a roll as openers continue their 2025/26 campaign dominance

Another superb first-wicket batting partnership guided the Wilga Hotel Razorbacks to a big win at Collins Park on Saturday as the Narrabri District Cricket Association’s first grade one day ladder leaders defeated Tourist Hotel by eight wickets in their round five clash.

Chasing just 93 runs in a rain-affected 30-over day/night contest, the Razorbacks’ openers Matt Bradshaw (32) and Greg Melton (22) laid that platform for their side’s third victory from as many matches in the one day campaign with a dominant 61-run partnership.

They both fell in quick succession as Tourist skipper Luke Meppem dismissed Bradshaw in the 16th over and then Melton in the 18th, but Angus Galagher (14*) and Ty Baker (9*) ensured the side would not lose another wicket as they brought up the victory in the 23rd over.

Saturday’s round five match was the second time this season that Bradshaw and Melton have opened alongside one another, with their 171-run stand back in round one still the benchmark of the competition.

The 232 runs they have combined for at the top is more than two of the other four sides have managed to score as a team so far this season.

The Razorbacks have scored 575 runs in four matches during the 2025/26 campaign across the two formats, including the T20 competition, and Bradshaw has been present at the crease for partnerships that contributed 400 of those runs.

The Wilga Hotel men are widely considered as the premiership favourites in both formats this season, and if their top order continues to put together partnerships of such calibre, the in-form Razorbacks will be well on track for another crack at grand final glory next year.

Their skipper Jack Tate returned for his first game since round one after he missed their round three victory, either side of a bye and a washout. He took six wickets in the opening-round win against RSL, and he continued right where he left off on Saturday afternoon when he bowled Tourist Hotel opener Lucas Hogan for a second-ball duck during a wicket maiden in the first over of the match.

That left Hamish Duncan and Matt Conroy at the crease together, and Tourist Hotel’s two most dangerous batsmen were determined to give their bowlers something substantial to defend as the side chased its first win of the year.

The match had been underway for 38 minutes when rain struck and forced the players from the field at the 11-over mark, but they returned after an 80-minute delay, with both innings reduced from 40 overs to 30.

Meppem thought that while that break could not be solely blamed for his side’s defeat, he thought it had a significant impact on them failing to reach triple digits for the fourth time in as many matches.

Baker (2-21 from six overs) struck in the 13th over to dismiss Conroy (20) with the assistance of a Bradshaw catch and he went on to bowl Duncan (22) out in the 22nd over.

Nathan Hamblin (3-17 from six overs) and Bradshaw (2-19 from six overs) then ripped through the middle order before Mark Rottger produced his second runout in as many matches to dismiss James Keys for a duck.

Tourist debutant Sam Pannu (13) was the only other batsman from his team besides Duncan and Conroy to reach double digits, but he fell two deliveries into the Melton-bowled final over when he was caught by Dean Hamblin.

That was the final wicket of the innings as Tourist Hotel ended up all out for 92 runs in 29.2 overs, which the Razorbacks chased down with ease in less than 23 overs to prevail by eight wickets.

The NDCA’s first grade one day competition is now a third of the way in after the completion of the fifth round, and the Razorbacks are now on top of the table with 25 points following three wins, a washed-out draw and a bye.

They overtook Tatts, who were first heading into round five but sat out with a bye to remain on 19 points in second place.

Fellow round five winners RSL are also now on 19 points in third place after beating fourth-placed Boggabri by six wickets at Jubilee Oval.

That result saw the Colts remain fourth with 13 points, while Tourist Hotel are last with four points.

This Saturday’s round six fixtures will see the Razorbacks challenge RSL at Collins Park while Tatts and Tourist meet at Hogan Oval. The Boggabri Colts will sit out with the bye.