An unbeaten century from 13s opener Oliver Schmude provided one of the highlights for Northern Inland in a strong Central North Invitational Challenge showing in Tamworth on the weekend.
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All three sides recorded at least a win with the 14s leading the way with two, and setting up an intriguing final day battle with Hunter Valley for the spoils.
After thrashing Mid North Coast by 93 runs on Saturday the home side posted an eight wicket win over Scots College on Sunday.
“They’ve been unbelievable,” coach Peter Mead said.
“They’ve played some really high standard cricket – bowling and batting.”
Benji Marshall was brilliant with the bat on Saturday hitting 65, Mitch Henderson following suit on Sunday with 60 as they chased down Scots’ 151.
He was a bit lucky in patches, Mead said, but rode his luck, and really changed the game with his running between the wickets.
It was something they had identified from Saturday they wanted to address.
Marshall finished off the job with him after they had done the groundwork in the field.
“All our bowlers did the job and we had four run outs, which changed the game,” Mead said.
They also took the only two catches that were on offer.
The 13s also got the better of their Sydney counterparts, Schmude’s unbeaten 102 providing the impetus for them to post 5-199.
“Ollie batted well. He batted through the full 50,” coach Peter Holmes said.
He said he showed good patience early, then battled a bit of fatigue in the middle overs, but got through it.
After a two-wicket first day loss to Mid North Coast they then had Scots in trouble.
They were 6-29 at one stage as Matt Holmes (3-26) and Braydon Campion (3-22) tore through them.
Lachlan Reynolds (61) and Sam Fox (14) stemmed the flow of wickets but even at 8-94 Northern Inland still looked well in control.
Henry Bennett had other ideas though and almost got Scots home with an unbeaten 58.
“The boys played well. They battled well and bowled well early, and under pressure they were able to play the game out which was good,” Holmes said.
It was a similar story in the 16s with Scots fighting back with the bat.
Defending 5-209 Northern Inland had Scots 5-48. But the Sydneysiders dug their way out of trouble through Sam Gale (69) and Alec Bathgate (57no) to get the win.
“They batted well the last two sessions,” Northern Inland manager Tim Muldoon said.
Jackson Gwynne (3-30) and Henry Sindel (2-18) did the early damage with the ball after Kaleb McIlveen had hit 59 and Henry Smith 46.
“We were probably a few short,” Muldoon said.
“We could have pressed a bit more on the scorecard.”
They probably too let a couple of chances slip, although they weren’t easy.
On Saturday an unbeaten 91 from Lachie Barton had helped steer them to 7-209.
“It was a terrific knock,” Muldoon said.
He said they then really gritted their teeth in the field, and bowled and caught well.
