Central Coast ended the McDonalds Country Cricket NSW Championships with one win and two losses following a 51-run loss to eventual winners Newcastle at Tuggerah on Sunday, January 30.
The home team started the championships strongly on Friday, January 28, with a 54-run win over North Coast, with top scorers being Callum Rainger (66no), Steve McCabe (51), Brett Russell (46), Dylan Robertson (32), Jake Hardy (31) and Shaun Eaton (30).
After winning the toss and batting Central Coast put in a strong batting performance to register
Chasing 296 on a ground with a fast outfield, North Coast started solidly with an opening stand of 57 before former Narara Wyoming player Richie Gallichan was dismissed for 27.
Former NSW Country Player of the Year, Caleb Ziebell, scored 54 and fellow former NSW Country player Pat Rosser scored an unbeaten 86 off 54 balls, but the return of Central Coast’s own NSW Country opening bowlers, Alex Patterson (3/26 off 8.4 overs) and Scott Burkinshaw (3/45 off 10 overs) was too much for North Coast and they were eventually dismissed in the 47th over for 241.
After a strong win on the Friday, Saturday saw Central Coast suffer a disappointing loss to Central North by 31 runs.
Losing the toss, Central Coast fielded first and after an early wicket was made to work hard by a determined Central North outfit led by former Lisarow Ourimbah player Simon Norvill (58) and Callum Gabriel (52).
The visitors struggled for wickets but good bowling through the middle of the innings by Chris Archer 3/34 and Dylan Robertson 1/34, both off 10 overs restricted Central North to 8/228 off their 50 overs.
Needing 229 for victory, Central Coast was on track for most of the innings courtesy of 68 from opener Jake Hardy.
With the score at 5/183, and with Steve McCabe and Callum Rainger at the crease, Central Coast seemed to be gaining the upper hand following consecutives sixes from McCabe.
But in a unique set of circumstances the second six resulted in a lost ball and the replacement ball gave the returning Central North opening bowlers a new lease of life.
From 5/183, Pat Magann and Tom O’Neill proceeded to take the final five Central Coast wickets for 14 runs off 20 balls to see them dismissed for 197.
Sunday’s match saw Central Coast lose the toss yet again and take to the field.
The home team made an immediate breakthrough with Alex Patterson taking a wicket in the first over.
But Newcastle pair Daniel Arms and Jeff Goninan then took control putting on a partnership of 146 runs before Shaun Eaton removed Goninan for 49.
Newcastle finished at 8/250 from 50m overs.
Needing 251 for victory Central Coast needed a strong start but Jake Hardy and Dylan Robertson fell early.
Shaun Eaton (54) and Brett Russell (32) consolidated the innings with a partnership of 84 but fell within four runs of each other to tilt the scales again in favour of Newcastle.
Skipper Steve McCabe and Callum Rainger worked hard with a partnership of 47 to keep the total within reach but when McCabe was dismissed for 21 hope diminished.
Rainger did his best at the end to score 40 but Central Coast were eventually dismissed for 199 in the 45th, handing victory – and the championships – to Newcastle.
The table finished up with Newcastle on 19 and Central Coast, Central North and North Coast all on 6.
Source:
Media releases, Jan 29-Feb 1
Central Coast Cricket