Matt Bryant stars with ball for Old Boys in win over North Tamworth

In only his second top-grade match this season, Bryant - who moves between first and second grade - finished with 4-21 off eight overs after wily captain Ben Middlebrook entrusted him to open the bowling.

Middlebrook said Bryant was bowling "outstanding at the moment".

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"Over my time at the club he has been in and out [of first grade]," the skipper said.

"But when he puts his mind to it, he's quality - and we saw that today [Saturday]. He bowled outstanding early on.

"I used him for a couple of overs to start the innings. And then he came back after [his elder brother] Dan bowled five overs, and really took those wickets and really changed the momentum for us."

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After winning the toss and batting, third-placed Norths reached 5-71 when Bryant took three quick wickets: Cameron Reeves (3), Shawn Mepham (15) and William Doyle (0) - leaving the Redbacks struggling at 8-80.

They finished on 9-124 off 40 overs - with Mitch Lincoln (32 not out) and Brendan Rixon (28) the leading run-scorers.

In reply, fourth-placed Old Boys finished on 7-125 in the 28th over. Corey Sommers and Daniel Bryant both made 27, while three Redbacks - Brad Redshaw, Adam Greentree and Michael Rixon - snared two wickets.

Middlebrook said: "We've been struggling a bit this year - a lot of guys finding their way into first grade.

"And I just fielt today was the most near-complete bowling performance that we've had in a long time."

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