Norths grind out win against United
NORTHS have shown United the slim margin between jostling for finals and warding off the wooden spoon in a six-run win at Griffiths Park.
The victors set up a total of 188 with two 50-plus partnerships and a late flurry before the bowlers picked up wickets at crucial times to leave the visitors just short on Saturday.
It was yet another game United had taken to the wire and coach James How was exasperated at another possible victory gone begging.
He said the team was made to rue conceding 47 runs in the final six overs and three batsmen making over 30 but failing to convert them into fifties.
“You could find six runs we could have got in the field,” How said.
“We had chances to take the key wickets, particularly at the end, but we didn’t quite manage it. When you get them you end up near the top and when you don’t you end up near the bottom.”
But How was confident that things would finally click with a settled squad for the rest of the season and hopefully into the next.
Norths all-rounder Brendan Smith, who played a crucial late hand of 31 with the bat, said it would have been a much more comfortable victory without giving up 20 extras, but was happy with the team effort to grind out the win.
Smith took the key wicket of Cam Davis after Brett Housley removed Linden March to put Norths on the front foot, but heaped praise on Kyll Wright and Conor Punshon for beating the bat on several occasions.
“I thought we had enough on the board, but we were lucky we got a few at the end there,” Smith (pictured) said.
“We had a bit of a sticky wicket there at the start and it flattened out during the day. It was a good team effort to get to 188 – everyone contributed.
“Credit to United, the top order did really well and had wickets in hand. But luckily there wasn’t another over or they would have had us.”
Norths face a must-win game against Rovers next round to stay in contention for the one-day final.
United will be out for revenge against Barron, who have beaten them twice this season, in the battle to avoid last place. The ground staff at each field for getting 3 games on in full THE LOSER United. Another close loss THE STAT 6 – batsmen averaging 50+ this season WHAT THE? Alex Bone was playing tipsy run to start Mulgrave’s innings and set off for a single after defending the ball back to Rovers bowler Dan Kearney. Justin Reid rightly stood his ground. Run out. J CHADWICK b Matthews ............... 8 R CAMILLERI b Raper ..................... 6 A LOCK b M Di Salvo ................... 31 L FORD c Philp b Di Salvo ........... 12 S PREST b M Di Salvo .................... 0 K MILLWOOD c & b Robertson ....... 4 D KEARNEY c Raper b Reid ............ 3 B NEWMAN run out (Philp) ............ 2 L CLARKE st Bone b Robertson ...... 0 D BARCLAY not out ........................ 1 T KERSWELL c Philp b Robertson..2 Extras (nb 0, w 12, b 0, lb 0) ..... 12 Total ........................ (26.2 overs) 81 Bowling: Matthews 6-2-1-9, Raper 5-1-1-16, M Di Salvo 4-0-3-30, Philp 3-0-0-15, Robertson 4.2-2-34, Reid 4-1-1-7 NORTHS V UNITED Norths innings N COE c Brix b March .................. 30 L NAESS b Beal .............................. 2 A WARNOCK c Koch b Lindsay ..... 39 D FREEBODY c Lindsay b Bartholomew ................................ 58 C PUNSHON c Koch b How ............ 7 M ELLIS lbw b How ....................... 8 B SMITH c & b Beal ..................... 31 K WRIGHT c Davis b Beal ............... 2 M WARNOCK not out ..................... 1 M HUNTER not out ........................ 2 Extras (nb 0, w 7, b 0, lb 1) ......... 8 Total ....................................... 8-188 Bowling: March 6-1-1-17, Lindsay 5-0-0-30, Bartholomew 7-1-1-35, Beal 8-0-3-36, How 8-0-2-49, Pietras 6-0-0-20 United innings E SANDERSON c A Warnock b Smith ............................................. 3 B BRIX c A Warnock b Freebody..35 J LINDSAY c Smith b Freebody .... 45 L MARCH b Housley ..................... 18 C DAVIS c Housley b Smith .......... 31 J KOCH not out ............................ 22 P BEAL not out .............................. 6 Extras (nb 3, w 13, b 1, lb 3) ..... 20 Total ....................................... 5-182 Bowling: Smith 8-0-2-30, K Wright 8-1-0-21, Housley 7-0-1-37, M Warnock 4-0-0-30, Freebody 7-02-27, C Punshon 6-0-0-33