The Northern Inland Bolters' mens hopes of playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground have taken a hit after they were beaten by the Coffs Coast Chargers in their Plan B Regional Bash opener.
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It was a tough day for the Bolters with the women then suffering the same fate as the men.
After restricting the Chargers to 4-114, the Bolters made 7-99 in reply on the back of a brilliant knock from Jess Davidson (45 from 48).
Earlier, chasing 181 for victory at No.1 Oval, the Bolters men made a valiant chase but ultimately fell short.
They finished 9-157 from their 20 overs in reply with young gun Adam McGuirk playing a great late cameo and unbeaten on 38.
Needing to get off to a flyer, Harrison Kelly (23 off 15) and Simon Norvill (32 off 16) obliged, putting on 52 for the first wicket in about five overs.
Michael Rixon followed up with 24 but they lost their way in the middle, consistent wickets chewing up overs and meaning the playing coming in had to score at 12/13 runs an overs.
Bolters skipper Tom Groth was disappointed, the way they finished off with the ball hurting them.
"We were quite happy with the way that we batted. I think 150 wins most games of cricket at No.1 Oval in the T20," he said.
"Unfortunately we probably didn't execute, particularly the last five overs, as well as we could have."
The bowling was the unknown going in with Saturday the first exposure to that level of cricket for a lot of them.
The weather did play havoc early with the game twice delayed due to heavy rain. The Bolters had bowled just one over when the first storm hit.
After getting back out there they then only got another over in before being forced off again.
Groth said that wasn't ideal but wasn't using that as an excuse, and thought they did a good job early.
"We bowled well for probably the first 13/14 overs and then we sort of lost our way a bit," he said.
"One of their players (Richie Gallichan) hit nine sixes so that probably tells you that we bowled too much length to them, didn't bowl in the right areas."
Hayden Baker (2-35) and Dylan Smith (2-17) both picked up two wickets and were two that Groth made mention of.
He thought the spin bowlers bowled well in patches.
"But in between those good little periods there were too many horrible balls and too many free hit balls and Richie put them away," he said.
Gallichan finished unbeaten on 95 from 51 balls. He completed a man of the match performance with 3-31.
The Bolters have another two games on Sunday.
