SIMON Norvill played such a commanding innings on Saturday that, despite being on the losing side, the umpires had to give him the nod for best on field.
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The same occurred at Chaffey Park where Brett Walsh starred with bat and ball in a beaten side
Walsh also picked up the three points despite his City United losing to North Tamworth by 21 runs.
Bective-East allrounder Calum Rowe bucked that trend when his century earned his Bulls a 49 run win over West Tamworth and Rowe the three points.
Team-mate Greg Tighe bagged the two and West allrounder Tim Kensell earned the one.
At Chaffey, Brett Walsh got the major points despite his side losing by 21 runs.
He had taken 2-20 in North’s 5-195 and then smashed 53 off 49 balls to give his side a sniff in their run chase.
Kris Halloran’s 46 earned him the two points and Joey Holt’s 37 off 35 balls the one.
At No. 1 Oval Simon Norvill burned brightly early, smacking 67 off just 63 balls.
Old Boys wasted that start to be all out for 162.
James Hammond followed up his four wicket haul in T20 cricket the evening before to claim 3-34 and grab the two points while opener Josh Crowe collected the one with his 54-ball 48.
For Norvill the smashing innings helped him to the top of the Cool Blue Ice Tamworth Best and Fairest Award (see B&F Table) and preceded Sunday’s 20-ball 36 for Tamworth in its six wicket SCG Country Cup win over Coffs Harbour in Coffs Harbour.
The opener has been in top form of late for both club and Tamworth.
On Saturday he opened the batting for Old Boys against Souths to finish with 67 off just 63 balls.
The week before he hit 34 off 30 balls for Old Boys against Bective, as well as taking three catches, before exploding in a War Veterans massacre of Gunnedah.
Seeing them like beach balls from the first over, Norvill smashed 77 off just 39 balls to give Tamworth a start that resulted in the side posting 493 in 50 overs.
The batsmen was pleased to be able to play a more competitive standard of cricket on Saturday, before taking on Coffs Harbour last Sunday in the SCG Country Cup.
“They were coming off well today, and I really had to dig in against those bowlers,” Norvill said Saturday.
“We didn’t manage to build partnerships and lost consistent wickets which cost us.”
“Souths have a good bowling attack this season. Getting a few more runs against Coffs tomorrow would be nice.”
The batsmen got his wish when he top scored with an electric 36 off just 20 balls against Coffs Harbour including two huge sixes and three fours.
Tamworth bowled Coffs out for a meagre 76 before belting the runs off just 14.2 overs four batsmen down.
The dynamic hitter is looking forward to more rep games and a chance to return to the SCG for the Country Cup final.
“It is a different challenge and takes that extra level of concentration,” Norvill said.
“I always like to bat first in every game and put on some scoreboard pressure.”
The batsman doesn’t like to over think his own game.
“That’s why I like opening.”
“You get straight in there and there is no mucking around or waiting. See the ball, hit the ball. When I think about it too much I don’t score runs. Playing on reaction and trying to trust my own game.”
