Dave Fisher square drives in his half century against Old Boys on Saturday. The wicketkeeper is Simon Norvill. Photo: Grant Robertson. 131012GRD16
THERE wasn’t much good news for Old Boys in Saturday’s NICU Tamworth first grade clash with North Tamworth but there was plenty to like about another chasing effort from the Redbacks.
While Old Boys lost co-captain Ben Middlebrook with a shoulder injury during its knock of 7-204, North chased well for the second week in a row and got the same result.
Middlebrook hurt his shoulder while diving to make his ground and had to retire on 21.
His partner Aaron Hazlewood went on to post 82 from 83 balls and was the mainstay of the dig.
Paul Abra also chipped in with 28 and Old Boys was happy enough with the score and especially Hazlewood’s first knock of the season.
“He batted really well,” co-captain Simon Norvill said.
“At the start he looked like a bloke who hasn’t hit a ball for six months but then he started to hit them cleanly.
“That was a positive.”
Mitch Holt finished with good figures of 4-24 in an up and down bowling and fielding effort from North.
“There was a period in the middle overs where they got away from us a bit,” North captain Michael Rixon said.
“That was probably when our slow bowlers were on.
“Mitch and Leo Steyn pegged them back and our openers, Leggey (Ben Legge) and Fuzz (Dave Fisher) were outstanding.”
The chase started slowly but when Fisher joined opener Adam Lole at the crease the game gradually turned North’s way.
The pair put on almost 100 for the fourth wicket before Fisher went for 58 from 47 balls.
Lole ensured he was there at the end and finished with 66 not out while Dave Robinson was unbeaten on 30 when the winning runs came up with two and a half overs to spare.
“It was a good chase,” Rixon said.
“Lole played a steady hand and you need someone to do that.
“Fuzz went out there and looked like a bloke who hasn’t played for nearly two years.
“But after that he was really good.
“He batted well and bowled well.”
Norvill said his side’s bowling attack wasn’t good enough.
It gave away a lot of runs in week one but the side still won.
This time it didn’t get away with it.
“Fuzz and Lole’s partnership killed us,” Norvill said.
“And we bowled too many wides.
“We bowled four extra overs after 34 (wides) last week.
“At seven and a half to get last week it probably didn’t matter, but I said to them before the game that if we bowled like we did last week we won’t win the game.
“And that’s what happened.”
Losing Middlebrook for an unknown period of time with shoulder ligament damage is also a big blow.
“It isn’t good,” Norvill said.
“He hasn’t broken anything but we’ll have to see what the diagnosis is.”
Middlbrook said he thought he could go on with his innings after the injury but said it only got worse and he went to hospital instead.
It was insult to injury for Old Boys, but another great victory for the
Redbacks.
North beat reigning champions South Tamworth in similar fashion in week one and after Bective East also notched its second win, it sets up a top of the table two-dayer starting next week.
“We’ve got Bective next week and we’re keen to do well in that game too,” Rixon said.
“We should have Kris Halloran back as well.”