By JO HARRISON
ARMIDALE’S representative cricketers have secured a solid victory against Narrabri in their first clash in the War Veterans’ Cup at the Sportsground on Sunday.
Armidale got off to a strong start batting first at a run a ball.
Openers Dean Moore and Ben Welsh cruised at none for 60 after 10 overs. Narrabri managed to curb the run scoring with a flurry of quick wickets during the middle of the innings. Armidale were 5/95 at the halfway point.
Armidale City players Paul Woodford and Brad Smith steadied the ship for Armidale with a solid partnership. Mat Preston then came to the wicket and put on a further 30 runs with Paul Woodford.
Armidale were on the way to posting a reasonable total and at about the 200-run mark the bowlers chipped in to finish the innings for 226.
Narrabri were never really in the hunt in their innings. Losing wickets consistently they found themselves with eight weeks down and 60 runs short. The tail end didn’t wag with the last two wickets falling in consecutive balls.
Armidale bowler Stephen Butler said although it was a good win the fielding was below their usual standard.
“I look at the game in two ways, we didn’t play our best but we were still able to come away with the win,” he said.
“It means we have a lot to build on going into our next game.”
Armidale’s next game will be in the Country Shield knock-out competition against Tamworth on 3 November in Tamworth and then the locals play Tamworth again in the second round of the War Veterans Cup.
