Razorbacks snap losing streak and firm as favourites for third

The Western Razorbacks first XI scored its most important win of the 2020-21 Narrabri District Cricket Association one day season to date on Saturday when it downed defending champions Tatts by 40 runs at Hogan Oval.

The Razorbacks entered the round 11 match in third place, just one win clear of last-placed Tatts.

The Wee Waa-based side had lost its past four matches, but broke its losing streak in style to move two wins clear of the bottom-ranked team with just four rounds remaining to firm as favourites to take out the third spot on the ladder.

The Razorbacks batted first after captain Justin Knight won the toss and the side lasted the full 45 overs in the middle, scoring 168 runs for the loss of just four wickets.

Openers Knight (36) and Ty Baker (25) laid the platform for a successful innings with a 65-run opening-wicket partnership which lasted almost 23 overs.

After those two had been dismissed, the side’s number four batsman Daniel Hamilton did the damage with an unbeaten 53. It was a patient knock, with just 16 runs coming from boundaries.

Number three batsman Toby Reynolds (2) fell cheaply, but Josh Trindall (13) and Chris Smith (19*) made handy contributions.

Tatts spinner Charlie Simkin (3-44 from nine overs) and skipper/opening bowler Ryan O’Neill (1-25 from nine overs) took all four of their team’s wickets.

Tatts then opened the batting with Daniel Kahl and Luke Morgan who got their side on the front foot with 17 runs in the first three overs.

However, both were dismissed in the Nathan Hamblin-bowled fourth over. Kahl (7) was caught by Harry Pattison from the first ball of the over, just after Hamblin had bowled a no ball, then Morgan was caught by Hamilton four balls later as the score went from 0-18 to 2-18 in a flash.

That became 3-23 in the sixth over when Hamblin claimed his third scalp, dismissing Brendan Ward (0) who was caught by Reynolds.

Razorbacks youngster Clay Hoffman was brought on as the first change bowler in the 10th over and the spinner conceded just two runs from his first over. He then bowled a wicket-maiden in his second, removing Craig Gleeson (12) who was caught by Knight.

Gleeson was the last of the Tatts top four to fall as the score became 4-39 after 12 overs.

That wicket brought O’Neill to the crease who was determined to give his side a fighting chance. The Tatts captain batted for more than 31 overs on his way to an unbeaten 43, however he lost six partners as his side fell 41 runs short of victory in the 44th over of the innings.

The final wicket was taken by debutant Dustyn Allen who claimed his first NDCA top grade scalp when he bowled Jonty Schwager for a duck.

Hamblin (3-17 from four overs) finished with the Razorbacks’ best bowling figures, while Hoffman (2-12 from seven overs), Baker (1-21 from nine overs), Knight (1-28 from nine overs) and Hoffman (1-3 from 1.2 overs) combined for five. There were also two runouts in that innings.

This Saturday in round 12, the Western Razorbacks will go in search of back-to-back wins for just the second time this season when they take on Civeo at Leitch Oval.

Civeo played at that venue on Saturday against RSL in a round 11 top-of-the-table clash and lost by seven wickets to drop down to second.