TAMWORTH Public School’s boys’ cricket side is just one day’s cricket away from a PSSA state title after a gutsy run chase in yesterday’s quarter-final against Tacking Point in Tamworth.
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The Tamworth side won by four wickets and will now play in the semi-final at Maitland on Wednesday and, hopefully, the state final later that day.
Tacking Point was first to bat and managed to keep most of its wickets intact.
The Port Macquarie side made 4-83 from its 25 overs thanks to a big knock from one of its opening batsman.
Jack Diebold was economical with 1-4 from five overs, leg-spinner James Wallace picked up 1-12 from his five and Lachie Barton claimed 1-9 from five.
“We bowled and fielded well, especially in the second session,” TPS coach Barry Everingham said.
“At the halfway mark they were 2-46 so in the second lot of 13 overs we did well to tie them down.
“All the bowlers did a good job.”
Everingham said the reply started slowly and, at the halfway mark, TPS was behind the Tacking Point run rate at 1-31.
But with North West representatives Diebold and AJ Pretorius, fresh from the state carnival in Armidale, at the crease, the rate picked up.
Diebold top-scored with 21 and Pretorius made 16 to build on the opening effort of Barton, who occupied the crease at the top of the order and made 12.
The chase was always going to be close but a couple of big overs gave TPS the edge.
Nathan Watts batted well and was there at the end with 12 not out as Tamworth passed the total in the 23rd over.
“It was tight,” Everingham said.
“They were a good bowling side and we had to work hard for every run.
“Conditions were hot and we had to hang in there with the bat.”
Everingham also sent out a thankyou to Trent Madams for preparing the Scully Park wicket for the game and also to umpires Doug Crowell and Trevor Perry.
TPS faces Jasper Road Public from Sydney in the semi-final on Wednesday.
