All- rounder shines as Sub Parks nail Norths
DEFENDING champions Sub Parks have claimed a crucial fivewicket win over Norths in the topof- the- table Townsville Cricket clash at Endeavour Park on Saturday.
All- rounder Justin Dixon was the standout as he took 4- 37 with the ball before smashing an unbeaten 59 alongside skipper Mark Taviani ( 70 not out) to guide Sub Parks to victory.
Norths made a rocky start after winning the toss, falling to 5- 33 as Dixon and Mark Danaher ripped through the top order.
A 75- run stand from Ty Snow ( 45) and Nathan Tennent ( 31) put them back on track, but they couldn’t guide Norths to a big total as they were dismissed for 150.
In reply, Sub Parks looked in trouble when they lost openers Daniel Gartrell ( 0) and Sean Danaher ( 6) in quick succession, with Collingwood ( 2- 16) and Matthew Toumazou ( 1- 36) doing the damage.
Chris Johnson ( 2- 50) also snared two quick wickets as Sub Parks slipped to 5- 35, but a pivotal 116- run stand from Dixon and Taviani turned the match back in their favour to seal a fifth- straight win.
Meanwhile, Saints snared a much- needed victory after beating ( 2- 15) Wanderers by seven wickets at Gill Park.
Saints bowling attack destroyed the Wanderers top order as four players made ducks, with Matt Burton ( 3- 18), Brad Stout ( 3- 38), and David Schubert ( 3- 39) stacking up the wickets.
No. 3 batsman Brad Meek ( 43) made a valiant stand to keep Wanderers in the hunt while Chris Crawley ( 22 not out) ensured their tail wagged, but they were all out for 123 inside 31.5 overs.
Wanderers took a few early wickets in reply to give themselves some hope, but Tom Sky ( 37 not out) and Matt Burton ( 43 not out) still made quick work of the run chase to seal a Saints victory.
In the weekend’s other game, Wests kept touch with the top three after a nailbiting seven- run win over Brothers at John McCulloch Oval.
Tony Hampson ( 52) made a strong start for Wests with a halfcentury, but a middle- order collapse brought them undone as they lost 4- 10 to be all out for 160.
Justin Rawlins ( 3- 26) and Reece Danaher ( 3- 39) were the pick of the bowlers for Brothers.
In reply, Heath O’Brien ( 42) laid a strong platform for Brothers, but they struggled to build partnerships, with Wests seamers Daniel Kearney ( 4- 29) and Jaymie Dunlop ( 3- 25) on target.
Herbie Heuir ( 37) and David d Todd ( 39) kept the runs flowing, but t they couldn’t get Brothers over the e line as they were bowled out for 153.