North West finished their State PSSA boys cricket carnival on a bright note at Orange on Thursday, thrashing Barrier by 111-runs.

“It was a great away to finish the carnival,” coach Peter Mead said.

Batting first an unconquered 96-run partnership between Tamworth Public’s Adam Williams (59no) and Armidale City’s Micah Lay (41no) lifted North West to 4-167.

Their best batting performance for the carnival, Moree Public’s Riley Bettington also made 27, “once again making a start at the top of the order and setting things up for the team which he’s done throughout the carnival”.

Williams also had a very good carnival, and was a contributor with bat and ball and also in the field and with his leadership. 

”Micah batted really beautifully for 41 and improved his cricket throughout the carnival,” Mead said.

Tamworth South’s Logan Spinks (3-8) then led the charge as they routed Barrier for 56.

“He’s been great all week with the new ball, his first and second spells,” Mead said.

He was voted the most valuable player for the carnival, Mead also noting the sportsmanship he showed.

Glen Innes’ Mitch Duddy (2-2), Moree Public’s Archie Matthews (2-3), Tamworth South’s Nick Mead (2-5),  Gunnedah South’s Bailee Crowe (2-11) shared the remaining wickets.

Mead also made mention of keeper Charlie Henderson (Nemingha).

“That’s two carnivals in a row where he’s kept every single delivery,” he said.

[Nick] Mead’s captaincy was also outstanding under tough conditions.

DAY THREE

A drop off in concentration late in Western’s run chase cost the North West boys the chance to notch their first win of the State PSSA Boys Cricket Carnival in Orange on Wednesday.

After posting 6-126, which coach Peter Mead said was quite a good total for that deck, they were on top for a lot of the home side’s innings.

“However we lost concentration in last third,” Mead said, an excellent partnership between Western’s number seven and 10 batsmen getting Western home.

From 7-62 at the second drinks break (34 overs) they passed North West’s total eight down in the 47^th over.

“We were so competitive but we just couldn’t get over the line,” Mead said.

“We lost our way in the field and didn’t take a couple of chances that were on offer to win the game.”

He said they bowled exceptionally well.

Tamworth South’s Logan Spinks was again outstanding with 0-19 from his eight overs.

Tamworth Public’s Adam Williams (2-21), Timbumburi’s Jock Smith (2-11) and Ben Venue’s George Schmude (2-24) shared the top wicket honours, Gunnedah South’s Bailee Crowe also chiming in with 1-11.

Earlier Glen Innes’ Mitchell Duddy opened with a “great” 29.

“He toughed it out,” Mead said.

“It wasn’t easy conditions, the ball was going through low.”

He had a good allround game finishing with 0-10 off his six.

Moree Public’s Riley Bettington was also in the runs again with 26,while Spinks batted “extremely well” for 32.

Mead also noted that his running between the wickets with City United and Tamworth team-mate Williams, who was unbeaten on 18, was superb.

They play Barrier in their final game on Thursday.

Polding’s run was meanwhile ended by a very strong Sydney West side.

Batting first the Polding side containing Zac Craig (St Joseph’s Barraba), Ben Chick (St Edwards Tamworth) , Sam Anderson (St Nicholas Tamworth) and Sid Harvey (St Francis Xavier Narrabri) could only manage 51, which Sydney West chased in about 15 overs. 

DAY TWO

North West’s primary cricket boys have endured a tough initiation to their state carnival in Orange.

Following a heavy first day loss to a strong Mackillop outfit, the Peter Mead-coached side was beaten by North Coast on Tuesday,

Batting first they again lost quick wickets and found themselves in early trouble.

They were 4-12 at one stage but made “a bit of a comeback” through Riley Moree Public’s Bettington (33) and Armidale City’s Micah Lay (12). They took them to 49 with Bettington mixing his game up well.

He was strong in defence, Mead said, but was also able to find the boundary on five occasions.

Nemingha’s Charlie Henderson (37) and Tamworth South’s Logan Spinks (23) then took the score from 54 to 117 for the eighth wicket as North West was bowled out for 121 in the 44^th over.

They then needed early wickets but “that didn’t quite happen” with the North Coast opening pair putting on 52. From there they reached 4-125 in the 33^rd over.

Tamworth Public’s Adam Williams (two), Tamworth South’s Nick Mead and Gunnedah South’s Bailee Crowe were the North West wicket-takers.

Mead also made mention of Spinks, who bowled “exceptionally well” to finish with 0-6 off five with two maidens.

“He bowled well opening and his second spell was fast,” he said.

“Mitch Duddy (Glen Innes) with 0-7 off three he bowled nice and tight and Riley had 0-5 off three to add to his excellent batting performance.”

Mead was also impressed with the way Moree Public’s Archie Matthews injected himself into the game.

“His encouragement and leadership on the paddock was second to none,” he said.

The Polding side containing Zac Craig (St Joseph’s Barraba), Ben Chick (St Edwards Tamworth) , Sam Anderson (St Nicholas Tamworth) and Sid Harvey (St Francis Xavier Narrabri) have fared better and are two from two after rattling Mackillop for 71 and successfully chasing the runs.

DAY ONE

A strong Mackillop outfit proved too good for North West in their State PSSA Boys Cricket Carnival opener in Orange.

“It was a hard lesson for our boys to start with,” coach Peter Mead said with Mackillop amassing effectively 0-213 from their 50 overs. They used seven batsmen but five of those retired.

“Our bowlers toiled and bowled well, they were just bowling against quality batsmen at this level,” Mead said.

He said they had a couple of chances early, which they didn’t take but there wasn’t much joy after that.

“Logan Spinks (Tamworth South) bowled very well early. He was troubling their strong opening batsmen,” he said.

Illustrating that point he was 0-11 after his first four. He went on to finish with 0-31 from seven.

Gulargambone Central’s Tallis McEwen (0-32 off seven) also bowled well early, his first three overs only costing four runs.

Mead also made mention of Glen Innes’ Mitchell Duddy (0-9) and Tamworth South’s Nick Mead (0-10).

North West could then only muster 31 in reply.

“Our batting we were a bit shell-shocked,” Mead said.

“We’d been out there for 50 overs and then had to go out and face their bowlers.

“They bowled at the stumps and full.”

They struggled to handle that as the scoreboard reflected with five bowleds and two lbws.

“Our technique was probably shown a little bit that many wickets in the same vain,” Mead said.

Gunnedah South’s Bailee Crowe was the top-scorer with seven.