ADDA Constructions captain Matt Schaefer had to top-score twice against Sportspower before finally snaring a win last week. Photo: Grant Robertson 010213GRC09
SPORTSPOWER and ADDA Constructions can creep into the NEM Armidale Premier League final if they can win tonight’s last preliminary games at the Sportsground but all four teams are still in with a chance.
With one win and one loss each, Sportspower needs to roll unbeaten leaders Buttercup & Ace Embroidery, while Sportspower tackles the winless Hutchison and Harlow Real Estate.
Last week’s second round kept ADDA’s hopes alive but it took two attempts from Matt Schaefer’s team to get the points.
The game began under grey skies on Friday night but was washed out at the halfway stage after ADDA had scored 9-118 against Sportspower.
Schaefer top-scored with 28 while Jason Boland took 2-11 from three overs and claimed a run out and a catch for Sportspower.
The game was re-started on Sunday and, once again, Schaefer was the pick of the batsmen with 56, but the total was a little smaller.
Boland took two more scalps to keep the score to 115.
The run chase was disastrous for Sportspower and it was dismissed for only 66.
The second game saw Hutchison and Harlow set 8-107, with Tom Armitage’s 28 the top score.
Zac Atkin then took two early wickets but Buttercup & Ace recovered, thanks largely to 47 from Shannon Rafferty, to win by five wickets with four balls to spare.
The final will be played next Friday and, unless Buttercup & Ace and ADDA both win tonight, there will need to be a countback to discover the top two.
The Gunnedah Premier League Twenty20 also continues tonight, with its penultimate round from 5.15pm featuring unbeaten Karen Carter Chemist.
KCC has won all three completed McDonald’s T20 games so far and plays a Lakeford Real Estate side at Kitchener Park that is equal with Tamba Industrial and Gunnedah Timbers on 10 points apiece. Tamba Industrial and Gunnedah Timbers start their game at about 8pm.
The GPL Final will be played Friday, February 22.
GPL TABLE: Karen Carter Chemist 20, Lakeford Real Estate, Tamba Industrial, Gunnedah Timbers 10.