Inverell's Tom Scoble again took early wickets for Central North yesterday but was only able to bowl four overs. Photo by Grant Robertson 091212GRA07
CENTRAL North again showed the depth of its batting order at Johnny Martin Oval, Taree yesterday but it wasn’t enough to get it over the line against North Coast and finish off its Kookaburra Cup campaign with a win.
Chasing North Coast’s 9-181 Central North were all out for 150 to leave them second in their pool.
North Coast finished on top and will face Central Coast in today’s final.
Yesterday they were “just too good” Central North assistant coach Tony Meppem said.
“They batted down to 11,” Meppem said.
“(But) Our guys bowled well and fielded well. They put in a great effort in the field.”
Inverell’s Tom Scoble gave them a great start as he has done all carnival.
His first four overs yielded 2-5 and helped them have North Coast in some trouble at 3-11 after eight.
But from there things deteriorated with Scoble unable to continue due to an achilles problem and Central North finding wickets hard to come by.
By the 23rd over North Coast had got to 3-72.
They had a few other good partnerships along the way with Harry Nicholson making 44, Isaiah Barker 38, Jacob Wood 30 and Liam Coelho 25.
Spinner Trent Park fared the best of the Central North bowlers picking up 3-25 from his 10.
They did do the best of any team so far in the carnival. Up until yesterday North Coast had only lost three wickets.
Central North then found themselves in early trouble. After 10 they were 3-25 and with some work to do.
They were still looking shaky until Beau Harris (56) and Lachlan Davidson (31) came together.
Their 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket gave them a slim chance and got them to a respectable score.
“It was a good fightback. We lost wickets early again, which we have been doing all the time,” Meppem said.
“Beau did well to score what he did.
“He’s improved every game.”
Keeping and batting.
“And Davo finally came good,” he said.
He’d had a couple of first ballers.
Meppem was happy with how the side performed.
He said the boys improved every game.
“We just need to do a bit more work with our batting,” he said.
But they now know the standard they have to be at.