SPORT Spinner revives season
NIGHTCLIFF’S season is not quite back on track — but it has been revived thanks largely to one man, and one lethal delivery.
Legspinner Lahiru Anthony ripped through Southern Districts’ second innings at Fred’s Pass to finish with the brilliant figures of 8-63 and 10 for the match.
The hosts scrapped their way to 9-143 by stumps, after they were bowled out for 147 in their first innings, in reply to Nightcliff’s 9-296 declared.
Sam Gibson (64 not out off 55 balls) and Nic Cowling (44 off 131) put Nightcliff in a position to strike for a much-needed outright win, with the cellar dwellers falling just one wicket short.
“It was a wonderful win and a superb spell of bowling from Lahiru,” Tigers captain Udara Weerasinghe said.
“He showed the versatility and danger of his googly with very few able to pick him throughout the second innings.
“We were very close to an outright victory and with a few more overs you never know.
“But we are happy with the result and look forward to improving every week.”
Weerasinghe has not given up on his side making the finals despite his team’s slow start to 2017.
“The great thing about Darwin cricket is strong performances in two-day cricket can quickly turn a season around,” he said.
“At the moment, we need to focus on winning games and from there anything can happen.”
Meanwhile, PINT fell 25 runs short of Tracy Village’s 266 all-out at the Marrara Cricket Ground.
Liam Banthorpe’s classy 113 from 123 deliveries for Tracy Village last Saturday proved to be the difference.
Robbie Vandermeulen (79) and Nathan McSweeney (75) showed admirable resistance for the hosts, but Joshua Neill (32) was the only other significant contributor.
Tracy Village left-arm orthodox spinner Hamish Martin took 5-78, ripping through the PINT lower order.
And Palmerston could only manage 128 all-out in reply to Darwin’s 283 at Cazalys Oval.
Darwin spinner Sohan Boralessa took 4-36, including the key scalp of skipper Alex Bleakley for eight.
Shane Buttfield fought hard to make 56 off 176 balls in 3 ½ hours, but no one else stepped up to make a big score. DARWIN 283 all out (A Summers 48, J Dickman 45; K Gardiner 5-77) def PALMERSTON 128 all out (S Buttfield 56; S Boralessa 4-36) at Cazalys Oval TRACY VILLAGE 266 all out (L Banthorpe 113, J Linsenmeier 23; P Gallow 4-57, N McSweeney 3-64) def PINT 241 all out (R Vandermeulen 79, N McSweeney 75; H Martin 5-78, L Neild 2-58) at Marrara Cricket Ground NIGHTCLIFF 9-296 dec (S Gibson 64, N Cowling 44; D McKell 5-64) def SOUTHERN DISTRICTS 147 all out and 9-143 (L Griffiths 34, K Piccinelli 31; L Anthony 8-63) at Fred’s Pass