The CNZ Under 19 keeper hopes to continue down that “ball for ball” track this evening when his side tackles Tamworth Plaster Works.

Halpin’s rectified their chasing woes from the previous week, bowling McDonalds out for 124 and then getting the runs chalked with two overs to spare.

“We approached it a lot better,” Everett said.

He had stressed to them heading out to bat that they had 120 balls from which to score the runs.

That’s basically a run a ball when you break it down.

“That’s the way we’re looking at it,” he said.

“Rather than 20 overs, don’t panic because we’ve got 120 balls and it doesn’t matter if we have a tight over and only score two or three.

“Just take it ball by ball. The batsmen have a bit more time than they think.”

While Halpin’s had a win to celebrate, it was square between the Everett boys.

Matt stumped Jake with some sharp glovework behind the stumps to reel in a wide one and catch him out of his crease.

Jake got his own back though when it was Halpin’s turn to bat – bowling Matt.

The skipper’s departure for 30 left Halpins with a bit of work to do, but Shaun Stevenson hit an unbeaten 42 to get them home six down and with a couple of overs to spare.

Stevenson earlier claimed 3-19.

“Col (Smyth) was away, he was a big loss,” Everett said.

“But some of the other bowlers stepped up.”

Stevenson was one of those, but the bowler Everett was really impressed with was Gunnedah recruit Jarrad Smith (1-13).

The Hurricanes play Tamworth Plaster Works Tigers at Riverside 2 this evening.

The Tigers also had their first win last Friday when they beat Steggles.

Tigers skipper Adam Jones was delighted to get that first win.

“Very happy with that win,” he said.

He played a big part in it, making 35 in a 98-run second wicket stand with Harrison Kelly, who was at his brilliant best smacking 97 off just 72 balls.

“That was great to watch,” Jones said. “He really just batted well.”

“That wicket is just diabolical at the moment.”

Some were shooting low, others were jumping off the deck.

Kelly was twice hit on the hand.

“But he batted on and played an exceptional innings,” Jones said.

After Jones, Corey Summers (13) was a good ally to Kelly, the two adding 53 for the third.

“At the start of play we said we’d be happy with anything around 120,” he said.

“In Twenty20 that 150/160 mark is hard to chase. You’ve got to bat very well.”

Which Steggles didn’t, and the Tigers didn’t allow them to.

“It was an exceptional effort in the field too,” Jones said.

“We fielded well, caught well and bowled well.”

Steggles skipper Ben Middlebrook didn’t share the same thoughts about his side’s effort.

“We just didn’t really have a good day,” he said.

“We dropped a fair few catches.”

He also thought they had Kelly stumped when he was 30 or 40 but it wasn’t given.

That wasn’t to take anything away from the Tigers.

“They were way too good for us,” he said.

“I still thought 155 was doable.

“But we got off to a terrible start and it just compounded.”

TPL DRAW

Steggles v McDonalds (Dick Edwards Oval), Halpin’s Hurricanes v TPW Tigers (Riverside 2).

TABLE

TPW Tigers 6 (1.525), McDonalds 6 (-.0908), Steggles 6 (-.3250), Halpin’s Plumbing Hurricanes 6 (-1.2124).