Gunnedah Second XI enhanced their MA Connolly Cup semi-final prospects with a six-wicket win over Glen Innes in Gunnedah on Sunday.
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The bowlers set it up for the home side routing the visitors for only 105.
“Everyone bowled tight,” allrounder Troy Sands said.
He and Farran Lamb opened the bowling and suffocated them early.
The introduction of Vinnie Winsor turned the screws further with the spinner claiming 4-19.
“He was varying his pace, which they really struggled with,” Sands said.
“He got a couple of wickets with quicker balls that were a bit like off-cutters.”
Kaleb McIlveen, backing up from a four-wicket haul on Saturday, was a great foil with 3-21.
“He bowled really well, he was getting a bit of turn,” Sands said.
Skipper Blake Small was also prominent behind the stumps with five dismissals.
Gunnedah in reply chased down the runs in 23 overs with opener Sam Lumby making 26 and putting on 43 for the first wicket with teenager Adam McGuirk, before Anthony Daniels (6no) and Darrin Cameron (17no) polished off the runs.
They were also assisted by Glen’s wayward bowling with the visitors conceding 33 wides in a total of 36 sundries.
The win pushed them five points clear in fourth with two rounds remaining.
The bowlers also did the job for Tamworth Blue as they consolidated a top two spot with a 40 run win against Quirindi.
After spluttering their way to 155 the Blues rolled Quirindi for 115.
Moree’s hopes of a top-four berth in the Connolly Cup were dealt a blow with a road loss at Armidale on Sunday.
Armidale retained a share of top-spot courtesy of a four-wicket win, with Moree now one win adrift of nearest rivals Gunnedah.
The Moree side was affected by some late withdrawals which resulted in a debut to Edward Montgomery, 11, the younger brother of all-rounder Patrick.
Edward is believed to be one of the youngest players, if not the youngest, to feature in the Connolly Cup.
He mustered one run as Moree was bowled out for 132 after batting first as six batsmen got starts although Jay Trindall top-scored on 22.
No.3 Mick Davison (19) and No.8 Angus Smith (13) looked good before being dismissed as Sean Skinner (4-38) made telling in-roads for Armidale.
Dan Hogan (2-18) and Ben Jackson (2-23) also impressed for the home side, who overhauled the target in 26 overs as Clarrie Moran top-scored with a stylish 30.
Ryan Kemp and Trindall were the pick of the Moree bowlers, returning the same figures of 2-26.