New skipper Simon Norvill led from the front as Tamworth won a rain-affected Connolly Cup opener against the debuting Central North Colts at Chauvel Park on Sunday.
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The opener fell just five shy of a century, blasting 95 from 75 balls to set his side up for a big score. They finished with 365 after some late power hitting from Dan Bryant (81 off 62) and Mitch Lincoln 58 (off 33).
"They both hit pretty cleanly and took their bowlers to the sword in the middle to late overs," Norvill said.
"Even though it was syntho (synthetic), you've still got to score runs.
"To get 360 first game was a great start."
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Old Boys spinner Zac Craig topped the wickets for the Central North boys with 4-63 - all four wickets incidentally being his Old Boys team-mates - Landan Price also chipping in with 3-34.
The colts were then 7-150 when the storm that rolled through Tamworth just after 3pm saw the game abandoned.
Fortunately they had got in the 20 overs required to constitute a game with Tamworth taking the points on run-rate.
There wasn't a lot in it with Tamworth only 10 runs ahead at the 20-over mark after the colts had needed 47 when they came off for the first time (for lightning) at 15 overs.
Baylee Borrow top-scored with 44 while Max Farmer made 31 and Samuel Peacock 40.
All the Tamworth bowlers got at least a wicket, Lincoln showing his allround value with 2-6.
"We actually came together pretty well as a team for people that haven't played a lot of rep cricket together before," Norvill said.
Lincoln, who has moved from Dubbo, was one of three players on rep debut for Tamworth, with Kevin Attard and Tara Craig also playing their first games.
Bringing her on at first change, Norvill was impressed with Craig. .
"Tara bowled really well," he said.
"They were going very hard at us early because of the weather around.
"She took the pace off the ball and got one of their big wickets (Farmer)."
He and Borrow had the scoreboard ticking along nicely.
Dan Collison also did a good job after being brought on to try and get through some overs before the rain came.
In the other game the last score update on my cricket had Narrabri 3-57 off 16 overs in reply to Gunnedah's 7-171, Mitch Swain holding the fort with the bat for the defending champions with 72 after they were at one stage 3-19.