FIVE runs denied the Indigenous XI its first victory against Mayor’s XI in a nail-biting end to the 12th annual Reconciliation Match at the Sportsground last week.
Englishman Ben Welch scored a quickfire 73 to lead the Mayor’s XI to 5/146 after 20 overs.
The Indigenous XI got off to a slow start and after Barry Lockwood was skittled they were 1/26 off seven overs.
Clarrie Moran tried to lift the tempo, but in the end, the Indigenous XI finished on 141, just five runs short.
After the game Armidale Dumaresq mayor Laurie Bishop presented winning captain Sam Uphill with the trophy. Ben Welch was awarded the Deb Walford shield after his man-of-the-match performance.
