CITY United skipper Simon Toyer was berating himself after he fell off the final ball of the day of their clash with West Tamworth at No.1 Oval.
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It made City’s task all that much harder, leaving them 3-12 and still 197 runs in arrears of West Tamworth’s 209.
“I’ve never been so disappointed in myself before,” Toyer admitted after he hit one straight back to West spinner Adam Cruickshank.
He put it down to a loss of concentration after spending the better part of the day out in 40 degree heat, not that that made it excusable.
It was a bonus for West.
They’d done what they set out to in making over 200.
“Getting three wickets at the end of the day was a good way to finish,” skipper Dave Mudaliar said.
They had 12 overs at City after being dismissed just before 5.30pm.
Tim Kensell (47) and Shawn Mepham (35) set the innings up before Sam Pearson came in and blasted a quick 39, 32 of which came via the boundary with his tally including just one single.
They weren’t your more traditional cricket shots but effective all the same.
“He took some risks, and they came off,” Mudaliar said.
He was tough for the City bowlers to bowl to – even good balls were being put away.
“Credit to him – he hit it hard,” Toyer said.
Brendon Reynolds also chipped in with 14, he and Pearson putting on 44 for the sixth wicket, and elevating West from 2-100 to 5-170 in just 14 overs.
Some sharp work behind the stumps from keeper Dan Whale off Mackenzie Morrison broke their partnership.
Morrison was on a hat-trick after next ball bowling Jake Baker.
Wests added another 24 before Morrison grabbed his sixth to wrap up their innings.
“There were some good starts. We probably missed that one to go on but we still got to 200,” Mudaliar said.
For City, the three late wickets took the shine off what otherwise wasn’t too bad a day.
“The first two sessions we bowled well,” Toyer said.
“The third session Sam just got lucky and the momentum shifted with him and Brendon.”
After their little cameo, which pinched a few extra runs, City were able to peg them back pretty well.
Morrison (6-45) was a big reason for that.
“Most of Macca’s wickets were darts he was firing in,” Toyer said.
“He was the best pace bowler of the day.
“He did as I asked.”
They lose him for this week but Toyer is still optimistic.
“Obviously Tommy’s (Fitzgerald) still at the crease,” he said.
“Hopefully not too much rests on his shoulders.”
Fitzgerald is on four after surviving some penetrating bowling from the West attack with Cruickshank, Kensell and Mepham all striking.
