Tamworth will field four sides in Sunday’s Northern Inland Cricket Council junior competition finals, and host the U12s decider.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That will be an all Tamworth affair with the Blue taking on the Gold after both sides won their respective fixtures on Sunday.
The Blues had a thrilling final over win against Moree up in Moree, while the Gold were three wicket winners over Narrabri in Tamworth.
After bowling the visitors out for 116 with Charlie Walsh claiming 4-7, Deni Baker 2-16 and Benjamin Livingstone 2-5, the Gold answered with 7-118 off 30 overs.
Nathaniel Follington hit 23 at the top of the order, before Nicholas Bukovac made 37 to guide them to within 10 runs of victory.
The win saw them pip Armidale on run-rate for second behind the Blues, who got home by six runs.
Batting first the Blues posted 7-129 across their two 20 over digs, Ben Chick making 32 and Zac Craig 24.
Edward Montgomery (54) then led the way as Moree got to within about 12 with two overs remaining.
Bowling the final over Nick Mead picked up two wickets and just missed out on his hat-trick as the Blues restricted the home side to 9-123.
The double Tamworth success was repeated in both the 14s and 16s.
The 14s Blues won on forfeit from Moree to cement second spot behind Armidale, while the Gold thrashed Narrabri by 10 wickets.
Landan Price (3-13) and Kilian Apen (3-4) led the charge as the Gold ripped through the visitors for just 46, opener Dahlia Glennie the best of the batsmen with 13.
Extras (16) was the top-score much to the chagrin of Gold coach Damian Henry.
Narrabri returned the favour with 20 extras, Sam Fox (5no) and Tom Laird (22no) doing the rest to give the Gold the win in 11.3 overs.
“It was a good team effort,” Henry said.
The win put them third, their only losses coming to Armidale and the Blues.
Meanwhile in the 16s the Gold chased for a two wicket win over Inverell.
Conrad George anchored the chase with 41 after Liam Rodgers had made 20 at the top, as they passed Inverell’s 116 in the 34th over, eight wickets down.
George was backing up from picking 3-36 before James Edmunds’ mopped up with a stunning 3-0 off two.
The Blues also launched a triumphant chase with Lachlan Barton plundering a brilliant unbeaten 71 off 33 balls and Hamish Fauchon hitting a quick-fire 42 to surpass Moree’s 128 in 15 overs.
Jack Montgomery was the star of the show for the home side carrying his bat for a well-made 86.
All the Blues bowlers figured among the wickets, Mitch Adams claiming the top honours with 4-13 while Alex Roseby snared 2-24.