IT MAY have taken a record score but Joblink Plus handed Locomotive Hotel its first McDonald’s Tamworth Premier League defeat of the competition last night, while McDonald’s scored its first win.
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A swashbuckling batting effort from the Joblink top order paved the way for a score of 5-201, which is the biggest total anyone can remember in the four year history of the twenty20
competition.
Opening pair James Psarakis and Richie O’Halloran pounded the Loco bowlers in the early overs in a 67-run stand that only ended when Psarakis was run out for 44 from only 16 balls faced.
O’Halloran and captain Adam Jones then combined for an even bigger partnership of 102.
Jones belted 63 from 34 and O’Halloran went for 58 from 42 balls before a quick 16 not out from Kris Halloran completed the run feast.
“I don’t remember playing in a game where someone got 200,” Jones said.
“It’s a monster effort.
“Jimmy Psarakis and Richie O’Halloran batted really well early.
“We were 67 off four overs so they laid the platform early and the rest of us came in and continued on with it.
“We had wickets in hand with five overs to go and that’s the key in any total.
“Plus the outfield was quick and it’s a small field.
“Once it got through the field it was four.
“But we batted extremely well.”
It may have been a bigger total but for Jarrard Abra, who took three wickets in his second spell to finish with 3-29.
Chasing that score was a daunting task for Loco, but skipper Dean Hoy had two half centuries from two games to his name and was aiming for
another.
He bashed four sixes but departed for 34. The run rate wasn’t too bad but wickets continued to fall and apart from 21 from Luke Paterson the chase fizzled out at 109 and Joblink had a 92-run win.
“Their run rate was pretty good,” Jones said.
“The way Dean is playing, he’s in great form at the moment.
“He hit some big balls today and if he’d stayed out there for 10 overs they would have gone close to winning.”
Joblink pulls level with Loco at the top of the table after three weeks with two wins and a loss each.
“It’s pretty pleasing,” Jones said.
“It’s only a short competition so you have to start well.
“We didn’t play all that well the first week but in the last two games we’ve played some pretty good cricket.
“We won today without Nick Pearson too.”
Next door at Dick Edwards Oval Halpins Plumbing had to settle for a much more modest total against
Maccas.
Matt Everett and Mitch Holt put on 46 before Holt holed out on 30.
Everett went on to make an unbeaten 57 and captain Tim Kensell added 21 in what he thought was a reasonable score of 5-140.
Greg Tighe claimed 1-22 from four overs for Maccas but the run chase was on shaky ground when it slipped to
5-58.
The run rate was good but Maccas needed NSW U19s rep Harrison Kelly to hang around if it was to win.
He did just that and scored a day-high 78 from 58 balls.
His partnership of 80 with Kyle Wells was crucial and even though Kelly departed with three runs to get the job was done.
Wells finished not out and Maccas claimed a much-needed win by five wickets.