Civeo cleaning up the competition

With a two-wicket win against the Western Imperial Razorbacks on Saturday, Civeo Cricket Club achieved something that no other side has been able to in the first six weeks of the 2019-20 Narrabri District Cricket Association first grade season – defeat all three of the other teams.

The Razorbacks were the only team that Civeo had not beaten this season, their round three meeting going the Razorbacks’ way by 98 runs.

At Collins Park on Saturday in the round six match the Razorbacks batted first after winning the toss and made a competitive 153 from 41.4 overs.

Civeo then lost eight wickets but closed out the game in the 36th over when Chris Sargent scored the winning run.

Opening batsman Nick Smart played a starring role for the winning side, top scoring with 61 runs.

Earlier in the day all six bowlers used by Civeo took at least one wicket.

Sam Bullen took the ball for the second over after Joel Hogan’s opening over conceded just one run.

Bullen delivered almost immediately, removing Razorbacks opener Toby Reynolds (1) who was caught at cover by Lachlan Cameron.

Daniel Hamilton entered at three and scored 10 runs before he was bowled by Joel Hogan in the seventh over which made the score 2-23.

In the 16th over Bullen produced a wicket-maiden to remove the Razorbacks’ other opener Ty Baker (20) who was caught by Joel Hogan.

At the other end was Jay Hall who lost three more partners while he batted his way to a team-best score.

Those were Steve Phelps (4), Chris Smith (15) and Josh Trindall (4) which made the score 6-100 after 31 overs.

In the 38th over Sargent took the big wicket when from his own bowling he caught Hall (45).

That made the score 7-126 before the Razorbacks tail, led by number eight batsman Tim Cameron (25*), wagged to add 27 more runs.

In the 41st over Sargent took the final wicket when he bowled Toby Nancarrow (1).

Sargent finished with 2-23 from 7.4 overs, only outdone by Bullen who took an impressive 2-16 from nine overs which included four maidens.

Also taking two wickets each were Jade Lees (2-29 from nine overs) and Jock Small (2-26 from three overs), while Jordyn Mowle (1-23 from four overs) and

Hogan (1-30 from nine overs) also chipped in with one each.

The Civeo top order then fired, led by Smart. He and Nick Tomlinson combined for an 81-run opening partnership before Tomlinson (16) was caught by Nancarrow from the bowling of Hall.

Two overs later Smart (61) was caught by Smith also from the bowling of Hall which made the score 2-96.

Number three and four batsmen Luke Meppem (28) and Tim Hayne (12) also reached double figures.

The Civeo side then suffered a collapse as it lost 5-14 to go from 3-127 to 8-141, before the experienced duo of Cameron (11*) and Sargent (4*) guided the side to its fourth win as Civeo secured a two-wicket victory.

The Razorbacks’ best with the ball on the day was Baker who took 4-21 from 4.2 overs.

Smart picked up the three NDCA best and fairest points while Hall secured two and Baker polled one.