It was back to reality with a thud for Central North at the Country Championship in Inverell on Saturday, after a strong batting performance against North Coast was followed by the latter’s openers staging an unconquered blitzkrieg.
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Attempting to follow up their 16-run win over Central Coast in round one on Friday, Central North made 9-262 off 50 overs at Varley Oval after being sent in – with Nick Smart (78) and Tom Fitzgerald (58) the top scorers.
But then North Coast openers Justin Moore (162 not out) and Caleb Ziebell (99 not out) produced what Central North coach Don Lewington described as “some of the best hitting you’ll ever see”. The win came in 41 overs.
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"We batted well and set a defendable target and we bowled really well,” he said. “But they [Moore and Ziebell] just played out of their skin … they played with freedom. It might of been a good lesson for our boys to see that.”
With all four sides in the northern pool having a win and a loss to their name, Lewington said Central North were still a chance of winning the carnival and advancing to the match-up with the southern pool winner to decide the champion team.
But to have a chance of doing that, he said they needed to beat Western at Varley Oval on Sunday, in the final round, and secure a bonus point in the process.
And despite the horror afternoon in the field on Saturday, he said the “spirits are high” among the players. “We’re still in the competition,” he said, adding that the players had to be “prepared to back yourself at all costs” against Western.
“Maybe 260 is probably not enough on these wickets,” he added. “You probably need to be pushing 300 plus.”
Central Coast lead the competition on seven points – a point ahead of North Coast, Central North and Western.
