NORTH West needs to “score some runs and give their bowlers something to bowl at” when it tackles Sydney West in a second-round State CHS Boys’ Cricket Championship match in Penrith today.
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That was the assessment of NW manager Kel Walls after North West lost its opening game of the 2013 carnival to North Coast by seven wickets at Jamieson Park, Penrith yesterday.
Playing on a synthetics wicket, North West was all out for 121 in the 47th of its 50 overs yesterday before North Coast reached its target for the loss of three wickets in the 43rd over.
They continued on to finish 6-156, Walls said.
Overnight rain had forced the game to be moved from turf to synthetic, he said.
“That didn’t help,” Walls said.
“Most of the games are back on synthetic again tomorrow as well.
“At this level you expect to be playing on turf but at least they are playing.”
Yesterday, Tamworth’s Matt Everett was the batting star.
The wicketkeeper, batting at five, helped the side recover from 5-17 at one stage.
“He batted brilliantly,” Walls said.
“He finished 69 not out, never gave a chance and looked in control.
“He made sure we finished with some sort of score.”
Armidale’s Scott Brennan (23) was the only other batsman to reach double figures while Tamworth’s Campbell Baker also gave Everett good support, hanging around for a long while to make a good eight.
North Coast had a good start and was 2-55 off its first 17 overs before James Psarakis and Jake Brayshaw bowled in tandem, Psarakis with his quick off-breaks and Brayshaw with his left arm leg-spin.
“They tied the NC batsmen down, bowled brilliantly in tandem for those 20 overs in the middle,” Walls said.
“Jimmie finished with 0-14 off 10 overs but bowled without any luck.
“And Jake went for 18 off his first over but came back and took 2-17 off his next nine.”
Glen Innes’s Nick Whan also took 1-15 off his six overs while Armidale’s Michael Dawson claimed 2-27 off his 10.
“In the end we just didn’t have enough runs. Another 30 would have made it interesting,” Walls said.
“Our batsmen just need to put their heads down tomorrow against Sydney West and score some runs.
“Sydney West are a pretty solid combination and we expect a tough game against them.”
While Everett starred with the bat, he has also been named as the skipper of the Tamworth Colts team to play Glen Innes in Sunday’s MA Connolly Cup Final in Tamworth.
NSW Country keeper Tom Groth skippers the Tamworth senior side in its War Veterans Cup clash against Gunnedah at No 1 Oval.