Michael Rixon has lifted the North Tamworth Redbacks to a much needed win over Wests on Saturday after dominating with both bat and ball on a day where all three matches saw teams chasing reduced totals.
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The temperature soared to nearly 40 degrees during the first grade fixtures before all three came off due to a storm hitting in the afternoon with some rain, thunder and lightning blowing around the region forcing officials to reduce overs and totals for chasing sides.
While Bective and Norths were able to chase down their totals for victory in the required time City United slumped to yet another loss after Old Boys total of 288 proved too bigger mountain for the young team.
At No 1 Oval it was Wests who got out of the blocks first as skipper Tim Kensell won the toss and elected to bat before the Redbacks reeled them back in to end up comfortably passing their revised total with a few overs remaining to play.
North’s captain Brendan Rixon praised his side from bouncing back from a big loss to Souths in a two day match last week to get the points this week and stay in the hunt.
Wests openers Harrison Kelly and Dave Mudaliar went about putting on a quickfire 47 for the first wicket, before an over after Adam Greentree trapped Kelly, Tim Unwin had Mudaliar sky a catch to Brad Redshaw without adding to the scoreboard.
“They were about 50 off six or seven overs,” Rixon said.
“Tim Kensell also batted very well but we just stuck with them and eventually got the wickets.”
“Michael (Rixon) and Tim Unwin (2-32) bowled pretty well.”
Sage Cook (27) and Kensell picked up where the Wests openers left off, playing plenty of shots to amass 66 runs between them, although when Michael Rixon bowled Brendon Reynolds for just 10 and Kensell was stumped by Lachlan Fauchon off the bowling of Josh Dawson for 55 the game took a turn.
The spinner then went about dismantling the lower order to claim 4-34 and bowl Wests out for 187 in the final over, before then leading the way with the willow to just miss out on another milestone for the season.
Needing 166 for victory Rixon anchored his side with an unbeaten 49, after openers Glenn Lewington and Lincoln Peters set up the victory by having the scoreboard ticking at a run a ball for their 61 run opening stand.
“It was really good to bounce back from last week and then fight back to get this win,” Brendan said.
“We are a fair way behind the leaders on the overall but our one day is not too bad – We just have to keep winning.”
At Riverside 2 Bective skipper Adam Jones carried on his good form, hitting 80 to see the Bulls past the revised total of 183 after Souths set 208 for victory.
