Tatts Cricket Club second XI off to a flying start

Tatts Cricket Club finally played its first game of Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2022/23 second grade season on Saturday at Collins Park in round five, and it kick-started the new campaign in style with a seven-wicket victory against defending champions RSL.

RSL made 79 runs in the first innings of the contest after it won the toss and chose to bat first.

Tatts took the 10th and final wicket of that innings in the 35th over, and they chased down the required total in just 23 overs in the second innings of the game.

RSL’s innings suffered an early blow when Max Hunter (0) was trapped in front by Chris Hartnett in the fifth over.

Rod Tomlinson was then joined by Nick Baird, and they steered RSL in the right direction with a patient 34-run partnership. However, it came to an end in the 14th over when Travis Tilse picked up his first wicket in Narrabri cricket as he dismissed RSL’s key man Baird (22).

That wicket started a collapse that saw RSL lose 9-39 and finish on 79 runs.

Tomlinson (16) and Mick Dowdell (15) were RSL’s other two batsmen to reach double digits, while Tatts’ Jesse Packer (3-6 from seven overs) and Guy Gleeson (3-17 from eight overs) were their side’s best with the ball.

Tilse (2-17 from four overs) was the other multiple wicket-taker in that innings, and Hartnett (1-13 from eight overs) and James Hartog-Smith (1-19 from 5.3 overs) claimed a wicket each.

Hartnett came out firing with the bat in the second innings, and he scored an unbeaten 51 runs to guide his side to a comfortable victory. He only lost three partners during his 23 overs at the crease.

Clint Packer (13*) remained not out when Tatts reached the required total and was the side’s second-highest run-scorer.

Hunter (2-14 from five overs) took two of his side’s three wickets, and his teammate Darcy Anderson (1-28 from six overs) took the other.

Hartnett was named the player-of-the-match and secured three NDCA best and fairest points, while Hunter picked up two and one went to Jesse Packer.

Tourist Hotel had the round five bye and will return to action this Saturday when they meet Tatts in round six. That game is scheduled to be played at Gately Field.