BOWLERS dominated on the final day of the under-14s cricket grand final as Norths claimed honours in an exhilarating finish to Armidale’s junior season.
Harry Lye (46) and Daniel Boyd (25) gave Norths a good start on day one and the team was full of confidence as they headed into day two with a 23-run lead over The Armidale School.
However, they were only able to extend their lead by 21 runs as TAS Yellow’s bowlers ripped through Norths’ batting line-up, taking six wickets in quick succession.
Dan Lethbridge (3/13) and Kieran Dennis (3/15) helped TAS restrict Norths to a lead of just 44 runs over the TAS first day total.
Just as Norths openers had set their team up on day one, TAS openers Nick Farrar (45) and Henry Smith (30) had also got their team off to a good start. TAS were confident they could overcome Norths’ total in the 25 overs remaining in the game.
Norths were determined not to let the final slip away though and their bowlers remained cool to destroy any chance TAS had at claiming the premiership.
Shaun Niemeyer (3/17) and Matt Targett (3/22) combined to take five TAS wickets between them.
The consistent loss of batsmen unsettled TAS – a team that had only been bowled out once in the whole of the season.
They were unable to hang on as Norths’ skipper Darby Chalmers picked up the final wicket to leave TAS 11 runs short of victory.
