Central North were unable to capitalise on a promising start with the bat as they fell to North Coastal in their Bradman Cup opener at Albury on Monday.
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Set an imposing 257 for victory on a deck that wasn’t offering much for the bowlers, Central North chased valiantly but were all out for 185 in the 44th over.
“We ran out of batsmen in the end. We thought we were a chance,” co-coach Kel Walls said.
“We started very well in the run chase, but then we fell in a heap for a few overs and got bogged down with a couple of good bowlers.”
“Then the run-rate blew out and we couldn’t keep up with it and lost wickets trying to chase at end.”
Tamworth’s Jack Hamilton top-scored with 40 while Gunnedah’s Zac Clarke made 26 at the top of the order and Beau Parnell 24.
“I think out biggest batting problem was we didn’t have anyone that got a start and went on with it like the opposing team did,” Walls said.
“They only had three batsmen that made any significant scores but two of them were in excess of 50. When you’re chasing a score of 250 plus one of your top six has got to make 50 plus.”
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Earlier City United quick Joey Mead (4-41) led a fightback with the ball with Central North claiming nine wickets in the last 16 overs.
“It was a good comeback from what we were looking at,” Walls said with North Coastal 1-195 at one stage.
Mead provided the crucial breakthrough, bowling top-scorer Charles Mitchell for 87.
He snared a second wicket five runs later and from there they picked up wickets consistently, Cameron Wynn and Jack Sylvester both finishing with two.
Walls though Mead and spinner Tom Druery were the pick of the bowlers, the latter bowling a “good session of eight or nine overs”.
Generally they bowled well in patches he said, just not probably consistent enough.
Still there are a lot of positives they can take into the rest of the carnival.
Tuesday will see them taking on Greater Illawarra.
