Skipper blasts Norths to victory as rain looms
A BLISTERING captain’s knock from Chris Stanger fired Norths to victory in the opening round of the Cricket Far North 40-over competition on Saturday.
With rain in the air and the threat of a draw looming, Stanger blasted 51 from 33 balls to lead his club to a sevenwicket victory.
Earlier, having been sent in to bat, Mulgrave battled on a tricky wicket at Griffiths Park to post 7/163 from their 40 overs.
Comeback king Barry Weare was the lone batsman to fire, scoring 67 off 91 balls. No other Mulgrave batsman made it past 20 runs.
Weare hit seven boundaries and cleared the fence once in his two-hour knock.
Brendan Smith was the pick of the Norths bowlers with 2-19 from his eight overs, but Sean Prior was able to clean up later in the innings with 3-29.
Norths always looked comfortable in the chase and were cruising at 0/73 before Mitch Warnock (31) was trapped in front by Dan Kendrick.
A rain delay threatened to have the match washed out and end in a draw, but Dan Freebody (52) and Stanger (51*) did enough to see Norths chase down the total in the 26th over.
In the other Cricket Far North clash, Rovers defeated Barron River in a firey clash at Endeavour Park.
The game looked set to be washed out, only for Rovers to get the pitch and outfield dry enough for play to resume.
Rovers needed to bat another five overs for the game to reach a result.
The home side managed to finish the game at 6.10pm to get the nod, ending it at 2/90.
Leg-spinner Raffy Memon was the hero for Rovers, taking five wickets to help bowl out Barron for 124 in the 35th over.
Elliott Lovejoy was the Bulldogs’ best bat, scoring 50. No other batsman made more than 10.
Mulgrave 7/163cc
(B. Weare 67*, W. Matthews 18*; S. Prior 3-29, B. Smith 2-19)
after 25.5 overs (D. Freebody 52, C. Stanger 51*, M. Warnock 31; D. Kendrick 3-35).
(E. Lovejoy 50; R. Memon 5-20, A. Harris 3-30)
after 20 overs (T. Van den Berg 24, B. Edwards 23*, T. Lever 20*).
Norths 3/164 Barron 124 lost to lost to Rovers 2/91*