Last week the coastal side ended the zone’s Bradman Cup title hopes. 

Yesterday the Kookaburra Cup boys returned the favour with a 47-run win.

The Kel Walls, Rod Bryant and Chris Paterson-coached side batted first and was dismissed in the 49th over for 161.

It was a good score, Paterson said.

“It was a pretty slow outfield and slow pitch,” Paterson said.

“We only had a handful of fours in the whole innings.”

Tamworth’s Jye Paterson and Tyson Rennie and Muswellbrook’s Caleb McNeill were the main contributors.

Rennie top-scored with 26 after Paterson continued on his good form from last week’s Tamworth Invitational carnival, making 25 at the top of the order.

McNeill was the unbeaten batsman on 23.

It was a good day for the McNeills, with older brother Angus returning to the bowling crease and taking 2-21 to help put the Northern NSW Emus in a strong position in their two-dayer against Marlborough ( see page 26).

Paterson said the rest all chipped in with 12s and 10s.

“They stuck to the task well,” he said.

“They didn’t panic, especially with the slow outfield.”

There were times they got bogged down but they didn’t let it get to them.

North Coast was then “going along nicely” at 2-50 at first drinks (17 overs).

That was probably the worse thing that could have happened for North Coast.

“By the 21st we had them 7-60,” Paterson said.

The secret was bringing back openers Jaiden Tasker (Inverell) and Paddy Montgomery (Moree).

They tore through the middle order to finish with 3-17 (Tasker) and 3-33 (Montgomery).

Tom Brookes’s (Scone) leg-spin then did the rest.

He took 3-22 to clean up the North Coast innings for 114 in the 38th over.

It was a good win, with North Coast considered one of the stronger teams at the carnival.

“It was a really good effort,” Paterson said.

“They fielded really well.”

“Coby Cornish kept well. 

“He got a stumping.”

Central North will be looking to continue the winning form against Illawarra today.