Tom Barber has claimed a hat trick and scored 30 off nine balls but it has not been enough to get Dubbo CYMS across the line as Riding Mill snuck home to claim a second consecutive win on their virtual tour of Australia.
With conditions perfect for batting, CYMS skipper Angus Norton had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. Norton would be joined by his opening batting parter Marty Nelson getting the CYMS innings off to a flyer racing to 0-39 after the opening two overs from Watson and Butcher.
After surviving a huge shout for LBW, Marty Nelson was the first to depart out to a neat catch by Greenwood behind the stumps off the bowling of Collins for 18. This was soon followed by another good catch from Greenwood off the bowling off Kent to remove Norton for 32 off just 10 balls.
Joel Marks copped a bit of punishment from the powerful Paul Suckling who deposited one in the virtual tennis courts before Marks had the last laugh bowling Suckling for 15. Hall soon picked up the big wicket of Patterson LBW for 5 and the game was evenly poised with Dubbo CYMS 4-98 with a nice partnership building between Weekes and Barber.
After some further consolidation with 17 coming off the Ali Raza over, skipper Liam James had an immediate impact removing the set Barber for 30 off 9. Edmunds came in and immediately got the runs flowing getting off the mark with a huge six that crashed into the virtual scoreboard.
Dickson was able to tighten the screws with Greenwood adding to his two catches with the stumping of Edmunds for 23 off 9. Debutant Ben James got his first taste of dice cricket finishing 2 not out with Gavin Weekes steering the ship at the other end making a valuable 26 from just 13 deliveries.
The Riding Mill run chase got off to an absolute flyer with Scott Dickson clearing the virtual pickets on three consecutive deliveries before Corey Suckling had the last laugh sending the stumps cartwheeling to remove the dangerous Dickson for 18 in an eventful first over.
Ben O’Donnell was greeted to the bowling crease by Liam James who deposited his first delivery into the virtual cricket nets before he struck back wrapping the skipper on the pads and was sent back to the pavilion for 8.
Ali Raza and Jonny Bennett were increasing the score at a rapid rate before debutant Ben James finished his over with the wicket of Bennett who had compiled a more than useful 37 off just 12 balls. Despite the wicket, Riding Mill were well and truly in the box seat at 3-76 with 6 overs still to be bowled.
A steady flow of wickets continued to provide hope to CYMS with Edmunds removing Hall for a golden duck, Patterson accounting for Marks who made 12 and Paul Suckling luring Raza down the track before Weekes had the bails off in a flash to se him depart for 27.
However, the Riding Mill run rate continued to escalate with the score moving to 6 for 130 leaving only 22 runs to get off the remaining 18 deliveries. This would normally be a walk in the park but what was about to happen would turn the game on its head.
Tom Barber after being hit for 6 by Steve Kent was caught behind thanks to an athletic catch from Gavin Weekes. Next ball, saw Barber taking the catch of the tour so far, moving briskly to his left to see Butcher on his way first ball and finding himself on a hat trick.
Captain Angus Norton brought the field in for the hat trick ball which Greenwood skied high into the Dubbo skyline with the ever reliable Paul Suckling moving steadily to his right to claim the catch with the CYMS fans going into raptures in acknowledgement of the heroics on display.
Brian Watson strode to the crease with he and Collins needing to find a way to reach the total without losing the final wicket. Collins hit a six followed by a three to put the number 11 on strike. Somehow, Watson managed to get a thick outside edge sending the ball down to third man. Despite a valiant effort from Norton who had to cover a lot of ground in the field and prevent a boundary, the Riding Mill batsmen made it home for the three most valuable runs of Watson’s distinguished career, bringing up victory for the visitors.
Tom Barber was named the Cricket Library player of the match with reports that there will be an official presentation of the match dice at a later date in acknowledgement of his hat trick and all round performance.
The next assignment for Riding Mill is on January 5 when they will take on the Wagga Wagga RSL Bulldogs at the virtual Wagga Cricket Ground.
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