Michael Rixon's innings-saving efforts proved in vain as the Northern Inland Bolters men's Regional Bash campaign, and hopes of playing at the SCG, were scuppered by the weather at Scone yesterday.
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After accounting for the Hunter Hitmen in the morning, the Bolters' second game against the Lake Mac Attack was delayed several times for rain before eventually being abandoned one ball into the Attack's run chase.
Playing just next door to the women, who did play on, the issue for the men was a wet patch on the wicket.
The reigning champions, as the higher-seeded side, the Attack advance through to the semi-finals.
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Assuming the captaincy with Tom Groth tied up with harvest, Rixon led from the front with the bat.
After notching his second half century for the season with an unbeaten 55 off 50 as the Bolters posted a competitive 9-126 against the Hitmen, he backed up with a top-scoring 31 in their total of 9-107 against the Attack.
Simon Norvill also chipped in with 20 and Mitch Swain 22no, while in the earlier game Adam McGuirk (17no) and Tom Fitzgerald (24) provided valuable support to Rixon.
Coming in with the Bolters 2-8, his initial 26-run partnership with McGuirk and then 46-run stand with Fitzgerald set the foundation for them to get to what he thought was a defendable total.
"It was a bit sticky early," Rixon said.
"It's been a wet week down here. But it dried out and wasn't too bad just a little bit slow if anything."
He thought Fitzgerald batted really well.
"He changed the momentum for us. He hit a couple of boundaries in his first 10 balls and got us on a bit of a roll," he said.
They then had the Hitmen in early trouble with BJ Cameron, playing in just his second game for the Bolters picking up three wickets, including the prized scalp of NSW Country allrounder Joe Price, in his first two overs to have the them 3-33 after six.
Troy Sands then joined the party as that became 5-45.
Callum Gabriel threatened to do what Rixon did but Tom O'Neill picked up him up to snuff out any hopes the Hitmen had, although they were well behind the run-rate by then.
Needing 17 off the last over to win, the Bolters restricted them to just seven.
"I thought everyone bowled really well, particularly Troy and BJ, they bowled nice and full and just bowled well to a field," Rixon said.
"Troy got it to swing and BJ bowled a really good line."
