Sargent and Brayshaw star at Cricket Australia’s 2025 Masters Over-55 National Championships tournament

Two Narrabri District Cricket Association grand final winners proudly pulled on the blue uniforms for NSW last week when they represented their state at the 2025/26 Cricket Australia Masters Over-55 National Championships tournament in Western Australia.

There were four NSW sides in action across the three divisions at the Bunbury-based event, with Lightning Ridge’s Chris Sargent part of the NSW Waratahs in division two and Narrabri’s Neil Brayshaw part of the NSW Emus in division three.

Both of those cricketers and their teammates enjoyed successful tournaments, which for them both included plenty of runs and grand final contests following undefeated pool runs.

Sargent, a former Golf Club, Crossroads Hotel and Tourist Hotel man in Narrabri, dominated with the bat across his four games at the over-55s tournament as he scored 188 runs without being dismissed.

Batsmen at the masters level must retire when they reach 50 runs, and they can only return to the crease if all of their other teammates have been dismissed. Sargent was forced to retire in all three of his pool matches, and he then scored an unbeaten 37 runs in his side’s grand final contest last Thursday to help guide them to a six-run championship victory against Victoria.

The former NDCA cricketer also chipped in with five wickets for his side and was named in the team of the tournament for the second year in a row as his case for being picked in the first team in the future continues to mount.

Sargent’s side went through the tournament undefeated following three pool wins and their grand final glory. They beat Western Australia by 69 runs in the first round on Sunday, November 16, another Victorian side by 88 runs the following day, and Queensland by six wickets on the Wednesday.

Their final against Victoria was a thriller as the NSW men batted first and made 7-266 in their 45 overs, which the Vics almost chased down. They were on 9-219 with two deliveries left, but NSW secured the winning wicket with a runout from the fifth ball of the last over to prevail by six runs.

This year’s tournament was Sargent’s fourth, following two at the over-50s level and now two in the over-55s, and it was a welcome return to the winner’s circle after he won the grand final in both 50s tournaments before finishing fourth with the 55s last year.

He told The Courier that his first trip to Western Australia was one he will remember forever.

“It was a fantastic week. Bunbury was a great place,” Sargent said.

“The wickets were absolutely superb and the outfields were brilliant. The facilities were just fantastic.

“It was my first time playing over there in WA and I really enjoyed it. The body felt really good for the four days too.

“Our team was great. We had a great bunch of blokes and everybody contributed.

“Our fielding throughout the carnival was just brilliant. We got three runouts in the grand final, and the last two wickets were actually runouts, which showed we were fit enough and calm enough in the big moments to hold our heads.

“I was in the Waratahs side, which was NSW’s second XI, and myself and my teammate Scott Wells both made the team of the tournament, which was a big achievement for both of us.

“It’s the second year in a row in the team of the tournament for me. To be named one of the best 12 players at that tournament is a pretty brilliant feeling.

“That tournament is such a great one to be a part of. They bill it as a ‘Men’s Shed in the field’, and it really is. There have been lots of men who have been having troubles or feeling down, who cricket is such a great outlet for. It gives them some purpose and something to really enjoy.

“If anybody is thinking of getting involved, just do it, because there is a great support network of people that you will meet, and you will meet the best bunch of blokes you could come across as teammates.”

Brayshaw, a Narrabri RSL Cricket Club player, started the tournament in red-hot fashion with an unbeaten retired 50 runs in his side’s round one pool match. He then sat out of round two with a lower back and leg injury, which had also restricted his ability to bowl at the tournament.

He played the third-round game and the grand final, finishing with 95 runs at an average of 95 after only being dismissed once across the week.

He and his teammates began their tournament in entertaining fashion with a tied game against Western Australia on day one, with the WA men batting first and making 9-272, which the NSW men chased down from the final delivery of their 45-over innings, having lost just six wickets.

NSW then beat Tasmania by 57 runs on day two and secured a grand final spot with an 84-run victory over Queensland on day three.

Those results set up a rematch against fellow undefeated side Western Australia, who had also won both of their matches following their tie against the Emus.

The NSW men batted first in the decider and made 7-226 in their 45 overs, which the WA men chased down in 36.4 overs, having only lost three wickets.

Brayshaw told The Courier that he enjoyed his debut national masters tournament and hoped he would return for another crack with NSW next season.

“It was a great experience playing on the other side of the country and representing NSW. I thoroughly enjoyed the week,” Brayshaw said.

“It’s a really nice part of the country that I’ve never seen before. Bunbury and Busselton were great regional cities with beautiful and clear water and the people are friendly.

“We started the competition off with a tie against WA and then won our next two games, then we met WA again in the final and they were just too good for us on the day. They had some quality players.

“I’m really pleased with how we all went.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of teammates. They were all such great blokes.

“Everyone was so welcoming, and we all dined together and on our days off we all travelled together.

“The whole NSW squad applauded the grounds and the pitches over there, and what the club there did to present one of the best tournaments that’s been held.

“The atmosphere there was great. Everyone is there to win, obviously, but once you’re off the field, there’s so much camaraderie between all of the states.

“I’d love to get the body right and get picked to play at the tournament again next year.”

Both Sargent and Brayshaw are hoping to be selected to represent NSW at the masters level again next season, and they both have their eyes on representing Central North at the 2025/26 NSW State Championships event in Tamworth in February.