By MATT NICHOLLS
EX-SERVICES could go into the Christmas break in second position after stunning City in the Armidale and District Cricket Association on Saturday.
Servies made it two wins in a row and if they can defeat Easts this Saturday, they could go into the mid-season break in a prime position.
It’s been a big turnaround for the club which had just one win on the board after eight rounds.
On Saturday, a grinding batting display and a superb bowling performance gave Servies the edge against City.
Skipper Cam Mundy won the toss at the Sportsground, batted and was backed up by his opening duo of Luke Brown and Ben Jackson.
They combined for 66 runs before Jackson was dismissed for 28. Brown quickly followed when he hit one to Andrew Brownlie, who caught him off his own bowling.
From there, batting was tough as slow bowlers Brownlie and Rumman Hassan halted the momentum.
The only player to get past 20 was Cody Graham (21) who again produced some big shots.
Teammates Will Green (14), Clarrie Moran (11), Brad Widders (13), Jason Boland (19) and Mundy (13) all got starts, but failed to go on with the job.
Ex-Services grinded its way to 9/171 after its 45 overs, with Brownlie the chief destroyer, snaring 5/32 off 12.
Next best was Andrew Skinner, who finished with 2/33 from his nine overs.
City’s run chase never got out of first gear, however, with Servies taking wickets at regular intervals to put the pressure on last season’s grand finalists.
Boland took the key wickets of Brad Smith, Ryan Whitton and Brownlie to finish with 3/25 off six overs, while Braden and Jared Graham combined to take five wickets.
Braden finished with 1/35, while Jared ripped through the middle order to take 4/24.
Widders also chipped in with an economical 2/6 off 6.4 overs.
No City player scored more than 20, with Smith, Hassan and Matthew Morrow all dismissed in the teens.
In fact, City’s final score of 102 was bolstered by Servies’ wayward bowling, with 36 extras boosting their rivals’ tally.
Ex-Services conceded 24 wides and 12 leg-byes in what was the only negative on its performance.
