SYDNEY, Mid North Coast Sharks, Newcastle and home side, Armidale New England, began their NSW Over 60 State Cricket Championships with victories in Armidale yesterday.
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The four first division sides beat Quirindi, Lismore, Central Coast and Tamworth Blues while the Second Division started well for Armidale UNEX and Sydney 2.
The Armidale UNEX side beat Mid North Coast Dolphins and Sydney 2 defeated the Western Wildfires.
Upset of the day was provided by the Mid North Coast Sharks who had a comfortable win over the Lismore Emerging Greys.
The Sharks posted 8-156 ,with Alex Rullis (28) David Babbage (28no) and Warren McWilliams (27) the topscorers, and then bowled their coastal opponents out for 68.
Greg Pearson (2-10) was best of the Lismore bowlers while Roger Boyd (23) and John Jackson (12) topscored for the Lismore side.
Sydney 1’s chased down Quirindi’s 181, finishing with 5-187.
Steve Cavanagh (32), Peter Harrison (37no) and S. Williams (31) topscored for Sydney while Jim Stewart (1-15) bowled well for a Quirindi side which was best served by Greg Tideman (32) and Ray Bastian (44) with the bat.
Brian Scott claimed 3-36 for Sydney.
Armidale New England started its carnival with a good win over rivals Tamworth Blue, scoring 4-191 and restricting Tamworth Blue to 3-186.
Armidale New England batsmen Ian Petherick (35no) and Russ Wilde (37no) helped the side past 190 while Tom Kellett (2-33) was best of the Tamworth bowlers.
Terry Murphy (36no), Kellett (36no), Bob Haling (34), and Chris Crowell (35no) all contributed but Tamworth fell six runs short of victory.
Bruce Coppock (0/12) and Andrew Hunt were best of the Armidale bowlers.
Newcastle had a big win against Central Coast, losing just one wicket in its 1-209 score against a Central Coast side that made 4-207.
Newcastle’s G. Halton (38no), J. Hodge (38no) and P. Fleming (38no) led the way against a Central Coast attack where K. Campbell was the lone wicket-taker (1-29).
R Zeihkle (37no) and R Newman (37no) were best of the Central Coast batsmen while R. Black snared 2-7 for Newcastle.
In the Second Division, Sydney No 2 made 7-177 and restricted Western Wildfires to 6-132.
Brian Breakspeare (35no), and W .Viner (32no) were best of the Sydney batsmen, with Mark McKinnon claiming 1-9 for the Wildfires.
Bruce Pearce (36no) topscored for the Wildfires while Paul Georgiadis claimed 1-9 for Sydney.
In the second Div 2 game, the UNEX Armidale side made 3-139 to beat Mid North Coast Dolphins, who posted 9-133.
Phil Allen (36no) and Dave Warner (36no) topscored for UNEX while Dolphins’ Kevin Pike (0-11) and Bill Sadler (1-16) impressed with the ball.
Pike (26) and S. Cass (33) were best of the Dolphin batsmen against an attack led by Tony Buchan (2-30) and John Irvine (2-12).
Carnival organiser Graeme Andrews said all first-day games were finished before some late rain.
“We were pretty lucky to get through but the wickets are all covered,” he said late yesterday.
“We had a late storm but we are hopeful of getting through again tomorrow (today).”
Today, Central Coast and Mid North Coast Sharks match up at Lambert Park, Lismore tackles Newcastle at Armidale Sportsground, Tamworth Blue and Quirindi clash at Rologas and Sydney 1’s play Armidale New England at Harris Park.
In Division 2 Mid North Coast Dolphins play Tamworth Gold at TAS and Sydney 2 take on UNEX at Moran Oval.
