It is hard to know who got the bragging rights when siblings Lachlan and Jess Davidson played together in Bective East’s one-day loss to City United at No.1 Oval on Saturday.
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Medium-pacer Lachlan, 18, snared five wickets – four bowled – to finish the match with 5-35 off eight overs, his second best figures and his fourth five-wicket haul.
Jess, 15, who also bowls medium pace, finished the match with 0-21 off five overs and made a duck. But she did make her first-grade debut – a feat so rare for a female that Bective East skipper Adam Jones believes that former international Leonie Coleman may have been the last to do so in Tamworth – back in the 1990s.
Lachlan was also 15 when he debuted in first grade, also for Bective, although he conceded that Jess achieved the feat at a younger age. It was their first game together, other than numerous backyard cricket battles.
Lachlan admitted to feeling “disbelief” at watching his sister bowl her first over, knowing that “this sort of experience is very rare”.
So rare, it may be the first time a brother and sister have played first grade together in Tamworth.
He said: “It was an awesome experience. She bowled very well – bowled a good line and length for first grade, which was really good to see. I think she’s got a lot of improvement, but I think she’ll get there some day.”
Lachlan – who Jones said had “bowled extremely well again” – believed that his little sister was “excelling massively”. “I think she’ll go a long way,” he added.
Jess played for the Cricket Australia XI at the under-18 nationals last year and will represent ACT-NSW Country at the under-15 nationals in Adelaide, starting January 17.
She said: “I definitely enjoyed it [her first-grade debut). It was a good experience. It’s definitely a bigger challenge. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting it [the call-up].”
Amongst this feel-good story, what should not be forgotten is City United’s excellent display in securing their third win of the season.
After winning the toss, City amassed 238 off 40 overs, with skipper Brad Smith scoring 58 to post his second successive half century.
City openers Don Whale (54) and Liam Rodgers (17) laid a solid platform for the formidable total with a 51 opening stand.
No.3 Tom Fitzgerald (34) was amongst the runs again.
Another Bective youngster, Lachlan Barton, finished with 3-47 off 7.3 overs to provide strong support to Lachlan Davidson.
In reply, Bective, coming off their first win of the season, were bowled out for 207. Jones top-scored with 86, followed by opener Nick Pearson (36).
Scott Brennan, Fitzgerald, Anoop Gopalakrishnan and Ross Steyn were the most effective City bowlers with 3-31 off three overs, 2-29 off eight overs, 2-36 off 5.4 overs and 2-37 off eight overs.
Smith described City’s performance as “gutsy”.
“It was a bit touch and go for a while when we fielded, but the boys got the job done, so I’m very proud,” he said, adding: “If we keep that winning feeling going, we’ll find ourselves in the top four very shortly.”
Jones said Bective “played well enough”, adding: “But a couple of crucial decisions went against us which hurt us.”