Chris Massey’s rich vein of form continued on Saturday as South Tamworth strengthened their grip on second spot with a nine-wicket win over City United.
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The South Tamworth batsmen’s third half-century in as many innings helped Souths chase down City’s 5-135 one wicket down.
He finished unbeaten on 53 after sharing an unbroken 102-run stand with James Maltby, who was stranded one short of a deserved half century.
Souths always looked to have the chase in hand, Maltby and Caleb McNeill (17) setting a solid platform before Maltby and Massey accelerated to polish off the runs with eight overs of their reduced 34 remaining.
“Chris Massey has been sensational the last few weeks,” stand-in skipper Troy Osborne said with Saturday’s knock following innings’ of 58 and 84no.
“The runs have been coming for Maltby.”
He faced 63 balls for his 49 and punched four fours and a six, while Massey carted six fours and a two sixes in his 67 ball stay.
Osborne had sent City in on a spongy deck, which saw the start of game delayed.
“I thought they (City) batted extremely well,” Osborne said.
“It was hard early but Chris (Dempsey) and Fitzy (Tom Fitzgerald) batted well.”
They put on 41 for the second wicket after Dempsey (19) and Pat Dwyer (13) had negotiated a tricky early period.
Fitzgerald went on to make 28 before stand in co-captain Dan Lawrence provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 44 that included three sixes.
“Ryan Meppem bowled well again and Tom O’Neill,” Osborne said.
Meppem went for only 14 off his seven overs and O’Neill 18 off his.
James Dunston is also becoming a handy addition to the bowling cartel.
“We’re getting some good overs out of him,” Osborne said.
Until recently he wasn’t someone they would normally turn to but bowled first change on Saturday for a return of 2-24.
Lawrence said the deck wasn’t easy to bat on early.
“It was doing a bit early and Souths used it well,” he said.
“Patty (Pat Dwyer) and Chris did well to start off with and give us a platform so we could have a bit of a hit later.”
“It was good that we didn’t get all out.”
He thought they then fielded pretty well but probably didn’t put enough pressure on Souths with the ball.
“We probably didn’t bowl in the right areas,” he said.
“We probably kept it a bit short and made it a bit too easy for them at the start.”
Tait Jordan (1-19) was the lone wickettatker for them.
