JAMES Psarakis and Nick Leyden set South Tamworth’s innings alight with half-centuries in their day-nighter with City United on Saturday.
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Then the lights fired up and so did the South bowlers, routing City for just 109.
That was in reply to their 4-205, which was set up by Psarakis and Leyden.
City had done a pretty good job early and had South 2-29 at one stage.
Then Psarakis and Leyden joined forces and the landscape changed.
They piled on 144 runs for the third wicket to take South to 173.
“It was a tough deck to play on,” Psarakis said.
“If you get yourself in you’ve got to go on with it.”
It’s hard to bat on when you’re fresh.
The theory with his and Leyden’s partnership was to work the ones and twos and just wait for the bad ball to put away.
“They’ll give you a few on the pads each over,” he said.
He said Leyden batted very well for his 62.
Psarakis batted on to the final couple of overs and finished up with 84.
He had been thinking around 160 when they went out to bat.
“160 on this deck is a very defendable total,” he said.
“To score 200 on any ground around here is very good.”
City was a bit skinny for bowlers. It only had the five with a few away.
That hurt the side as did its missed chances.
“Jimmy batted well, so did Leydo,” City skipper Simon Toyer said.
“But too many chances. We gave both of them two or three.”
And they cashed in.
“They just controlled the innings,” he said.
Jack McVey was again outstanding for them and really shone out against the figures of the other bowlers.
He claimed 1-13 from his eight.
Dan Lawrence was the most successful, claiming 3-49.
City’s innings then never really got going after losing McVey, who was promoted up the order, when they were just 16.
“It was always going to be hard with the bat losing Ryan (Hansen),” Toyer said.
He was a late pull-out after having his wisdom teeth out.
That left a hole at the top.
The top order failed to fire, with opener Dan Whale the only of the top seven to make double figures.
As a result, City was flagging at 7-50 at one stage.
South though had to settle for only the one bonus point, with Terry Kampe (17) and Peter Mead (27) digging their heels in.
“Terry and Peter Mead batted the last 10 overs. They showed the ticker,” Toyer said.
“South looked like they could wrap it up and they dug in.”
Their efforts dragged City’s innings out to the final over.
Sam McHugh was the late destroyer and finished with 4-12 after Jamie Hammond (2-15) had done the early damage.
“Sam bowled well,” Psarakis said.
He thought they all did a good job and importantly backed up in the field.
“We just wanted to step up our fielding after last week,” Psarakis said.
It was a very disappointing display against North.