Armidale posted an impressive 257 on a slow Sportsground wicket against Gwydir in the final MA Connolly Cup round match before bowling the visitors out for just 90.

Gwydir captain Luke Smith won the toss and surprisingly sent Armidale into bat, a decision he was soon regretting.

Kyle Taylor (47) was seeing them well at the top of the order, combining with Aaron Whackett (12) to put on 65 for the first wicket in under 10 overs.

Armidale captain Tom Armitage praised the opener for getting Armidale the start they have been looking for all season.

“He hit the ball really well and allowed us to consolidate when we lost a few wickets later on,” Armitage said.

The skipper came in at number three and tied an end down for the back of Taylor’s innings and a good part of Croft’s 101.

The pair put on an 89-run stand that took the home side to 3-162 with fourteen overs to go.

Cody Graham fell for just two but  Uphill stood up with the bat, smashing 36 before losing Croft in the final over after he just scraped in his maiden century.

“I was seeing them well and hitting them well,” Croft said.

“I just had to concentrate and try not to throw it away like I usually do.

“It’s good to get one in the bag and hopefully they will start flowing now.”

After his Hillgrove side missed out on a spot in the one-day final on Saturday, Croft is hoping to carry his form into the two-day season starting next week.

For Gwydir, only captain Luke Smith put up any resistance and was unlucky to hole out to Matt Morrow for 49 from a John Elliot medium pacer.

The only other bat to get to double figures was opener Steve Pleffer who registered just 11 as Uphill destroyed the top and middle order.

Uphill bowled 10 straight to finish with 5-20, a day after he bowled club side Easts into the one-day final against City.

Andrew Skinner and John Elliott took two each and Matt Morrow the other wicket.

“It has been a bit of a disappointing rep season,” Armitage said.

“Today gave us a look at what we should have been doing all year.”