NIGHTCLIFF PULL OFF MIRACLE COME BACK WIN
A REFUSAL to give in from Tracy Village lower-order batsmen Wilson Ryan, James Plunkett and Lincoln RixonPetty allowed their team to triumph by just one wicket in a nailbiter against Nightcliff at Tracy Village Oval.
The Tigers looked like they would secure just their third win of the season when they had the hosts staring down the barrel of defeat at 9-184.
They were still 26 runs short of Nightcliff’s 210 all out.
But a gutsy 10th-wicket stand between Plunkett (15 not out off 67 balls) and Rixon- Petty (24 not out off 45 balls) got Tracy Village home.
Nightcliff dropped Plunkett on three occasions.
Ryan is only 16, but made a crucial 23 from 60 deliveries at No.8.
It was tough going for most of the Tracy Village batsmen all afternoon.
South Australia representative Alex Gregory looked in control with his 27 (with three fours and a six from 40 balls) but Nightcliff was thrilled to see him depart for the relatively low score.
Liam Banthorpe, however, had the Tigers at his mercy.
The Victorian, who has past experience with the Australian under-19 team, produced another innings full of class.
He made 61 off 80 balls, with eight fours and a six.
In his Darwin Premier Grade debut last round, he made a near-flawless 113 off 123 to help his team to another thrilling win, on that occasion by 25 runs over PINT.
Nightcliff legspinner Lahiru Anthony continued his impressive form of late, taking 4-88.
If he had the chance to bowl in tandem with captain Udara Weerasinghe, it could well have provided a different outcome.
Weerasinghe was due to arrive back in Darwin on Friday from a trip to New Zealand, but his flight was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Not having Weerasinghe yesterday could prove costly for the Tigers.
They are second-last on the ladder with just three rounds remaining.
Meanwhile, the top-of-thetable clash between Darwin and Waratah at Kahlin Oval did not live up to its hype.
Waratah could only manage 195 all-out in reply to Darwin’s whopping 430.
Tahs captain Brad Schmulian was the key wicket and he fell caught behind for just five, when he pushed at a wide delivery from paceman Luke Zanchetta.
Schmulian went into the game with 637 runs from nine Premier Grade innings at a Bradman-like average of 127.
Darwin blasted 3-225 from the remaining 22 overs in the day, led by Phil Tunnicliffe (80 not out off just 31 balls).
And PINT warmed up for next round’s massive clash against Darwin with a fourwicket win over Palmerston at Cazalys Oval.
Stand-in captain Tim Garner (65 off 59 balls) helped the visitors get home.