Sixteen wickets fell on day one of South Tamworth’s clash against City United at No.1 Oval. But it was City left teetering on the edge of the abyss, on a wicket Souths veteran Tom Groth described as “horrible”.
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Groth said the wicket was so bad for batting, third-placed Souths considered declaring but batted on and made 152 after winning the toss on day one.
Groth (34) top-scored, while Anoop Gopalakrishnan (5-47 off 17.1 overs) and Scott Brennan (3-60 off 17 overs) were City’s chief destroyers.
Before the match, City captain Brad Smith called on his top order to stand up in the run to the finals. On Saturday, they capitulated to leave second-placed City on 6-27 at stumps.
Souths’ Bush Blues quick, Tom O’Neill, claimed 4-9 off 10 overs, while Jamie Hammond took 2-7 off three overs.
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Three City United players – Tom Fitzgerald, Scott Brennan and Dan Whale – made ducks. Opener Troy Hearfield (15) top-scored. Both Smith and Noah Pitt were not out on zero at stumps.
Old Boys opener Simon Norvill blasted a 39-ball 85 not out in the abandoned Twenty20 final at No.1 Oval on Friday night, following a sickening collision between Bulls fielders Gerard Labuschagne and James Haling.
But a different wicket was used on Saturday and Groth, the Bush Blues captain, was not happy. He also said the outfield was too lush.
“We were really happy with our score,” he said. “The wicket was dreadful … [a] horrible wicket. I think the council boys are still on holidays – I’m not too sure.”
“The wicket seamed, it was slow, it popped … it was one of the worst wickets I’ve seen there for a couple of years,” he added.
