Cricket: City United defeat North Tamworth in Twenty20 final

On Friday night they starred with the ball as the competition leaders beat North Tamworth in a dramatic Twenty20 final to end their silverware drought.

The Redbacks were 8-56 in the 15^th over in reply to City's 7-132 when the lights at No.1 Oval went out.

With little likelihood of getting back on City were declared the winners on run-rate.

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The sudden ending to the game was a bit of anti-climax for them skipper Peter Mead said.

"We weren't able to enjoy the end of the game a little bit, it was sort of lost," he said.

"So that was a little bit disappointing."

But they made up for it in their celebrations after.

It was a win Mead believes they really deserved.

"They're a group of blokes that have worked incredibly hard to improve their cricket and want success and it's just starting to come together," he said.

Beaten earlier in the season by Old Boys in the one-day final, he said they learnt a lot from that, particularly around mental toughness, being positive and having "a few more clearer goals"

A long way from their best on that occasion, on Friday night it all just came together.

"We played magnificent cricket," Mead said.

Batting first, Brad Smith and Richie O'Halloran got them off to a "positive" start putting on 53 for the first wicket. Smith played his shots, striking four boundaries and a six, and hitting 35 off 30, while O'Halloran (20 off 31) rotated the strike well.

Tait Jordan then further strengthened City's position with some power hitting. Promoted up the order to "try and find the fence a little bit" he did his job, plundering four sixes and a four en route to a 23-ball 43.

Jack McVey then gave them the perfect start bowling Brendan Rixon for a first ball duck. He was one of the three big wickets in City's mind, younger brother Michael and Lincoln Peters the other two.

Coming on at first change Holmes got Peters (17). Mead then picked up Michael for 12 not long after, leaving Norths 3-35. The youngsters then made light work of the middle order to finish with three wickets apiece and have City well and truly on top.

[Peter] Mead said it was an impressive effort from the teenagers.

He was overall delighted with the fielding performance.

"Every bowler did their job, they bowled to the plans," he said.

"Our bowling was full and we bowled to the conditions of No.1 Oval well."

"We had fielding plans set as well and the ball seemed to find those areas and we took the catches."

First grade's win made it a silverware double for the club after fourth grade had earlier in the night accounted for Old Boys by eight wickets.

Second and third grade will be hoping to follow suit next Friday night.

In light of the light situation, the games will start half an hour earlier with the first game at 5pm and the second at 8pm.