RSL smashes Civeo in a top-of-the-table contest

The Narrabri RSL Cricket Club first XI returned to the top of the Narrabri District Cricket Association first grade one day competition ladder on Saturday with a massive win against Civeo.

RSL went in to the top-of-the-table round 11 clash at Leitch Oval determined to join Civeo on 56 points and not fall two wins behind the previous ladder leaders.

It got the job done with a seven-wicket victory and leapfrogged Civeo on net run rate percentage.

Civeo batted first in the round 11 match and was knocked over for 109 runs after losing its final wicket in the 35th over of its innings. RSL then chased down the required total in 36.2 overs for the loss of just three wickets.

The two sides will meet again on Saturday, February 13, in round 13 which will be their last meeting of the regular season.

This Saturday in round 12, RSL will take on Tatts at Collins Park, while Civeo challenges the Western Razorbacks at Leitch Oval. Those results will determine whether RSL and Civeo will battle for outright first position in round 13, or whether one will have the chance to go two wins clear at the top with just two rounds remaining.

In their round 11 match, RSL got off to the perfect start as Cody Kember dismissed Civeo opener Nick Smart (4) in the second over. Smart was caught at mid on by Jake Brayshaw which made the score 1-6.

That became 2-16 in the sixth over when Kember claimed his second scalp, trapping Matt Conroy (3) in front.

In the 11th over, Nathan Trindall replaced opening bowler Cooper Brayshaw and made an instant impact, bowling Nick Tomlisnon (8) with his first delivery.

Trindall then made the score 4-55 at drinks as he dismissed Jordyn Mowle (4) who was caught by Jarrett Tough.

In the 21st over, RSL claimed the big wicket as Jake Brayshaw trapped Civeo co-captain Lachlan Cameron in front for a team-best 33.

Brayshaw, fellow spinner Matt Tubner and RSL skipper Jarrett Tough then ripped through the Civeo lower order as the side fell for just 109.

Brayshaw finished with a match-best 3-15 from nine overs, Trindall (2-8 from four overs), Tough (2-7 from 4.4 overs) and Kember (2-20 from six overs) all claimed two each and Tubner (1-27 from six overs) finished with one.

Following his impressive effort with the ball, Tough opened the batting for his side and combined for a 66-run opening-wicket partnership with Craig Summers. The duo were unbeaten at the first drinks break when RSL was 0-45, and it was not until the 21st over that Civeo could secure its first wicket, when Jade Lees caught Summers (35) from his own bowling.

Lees then removed Tough (30) in the 25th over to make the score 2-71, then took a third wicket in the 27th over when he bowled Shane Murphy (1).

That made the score 3-72 and left Brayshaw brothers Zaac and Cooper at the crease together. They combined for a classy 39-run partnership to guide their side to its big win.

Zaac, the competition’s leading run-scorer, finished unbeaten on 22 while Cooper finished not out on 10.

Lees, the competition’s leading wicket-taker, finished the match with 3-23 from nine overs.

The other round 11 game saw Tatts go down by 40 runs against the Western Razorbacks at Hogan Oval.