Tamworth cricket: Simon Norvill fires back-to-back half-centuries to start 2021/22 season

Seven months after being named player of the grand final for his match-winning unbeaten 80, after scoring a well-made 60 on Saturday, the master blaster plundered 95 for Tamworth in their Connolly Cup win over the Central North colts on Sunday.

It was a promising start, although the opener did lament that he "burnt a hundred". Or two as the case may be.

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Looking forward to taking to the pitch for Old Boys on Saturday, when the local first grade was washed out, he thought he might as well take up the offer to play with the University of Newcastle in the first round of the Newcastle competition.

It was the veteran opener's second time venturing down there after playing a game at the start of last season, and saw him join forces with a few familiar faces.

Former Old Boys team-mate Andrew Harriott is the Uni skipper. Central North, and former South Tamworth, quick Tom O'Neill and City United batsmen Tom Fitzgerald are both also playing with them.

O'Neill has linked up with Uni this season after playing with Stockton & Northern Districts last season while Fitzgerald has moved down to Newcastle this year.

Former City paceman Daniel Rea is meanwhile into his fourth season with Uni.

"It was really good, I really enjoy having a game down there," Norvill said.

"I managed to get some runs and spend some time in the middle."

It was a bit of a modest assessment. Opening the innings, he was their top-scorer with 60 (off 65).

He was though left to wonder what could have been, in his opinion throwing his wicket away.

"I was batting well and played a silly shot and got out," he said.

Chasing Newcastle City's 180, he helped them get off to a good start, sharing a 68-run opening stand with Joseph Hart.

When Norvill fell they were 101, and only two down. But they lost their next eight wickets for just 58 to fall 21 runs short.

He carried that momentum into Sunday, dispatching 13 fours and two sixes before coming unstuck to the spin of Old Boys team-mate Zac Craig five runs shy of triple figures.

"I didn't realise I was so close," he admitted post-match.

"I just managed to miss-hit a ball straight to the fielder, which was completely unintentional."

In an interesting sub-plot, he was the fourth Old Boys scalp Craig claimed, the teenager cleaning up his club contingent.

As happy as he was to get some runs, for Norvill the win was the most satisfying thing after stepping up to the district captaincy this season. It is his first time serving in the role on a permanent basis (he has captained the district side the odd game before).

"It's always good to be asked to do something like that," he said.

He is hoping to lead them to better success after not reaching the semi-finals last year and last playing in the final the 2018/19 season.

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