Macquarie have chased down Nulla in round five of the McDonald’s Premier Cricket League T20 competition despite some scrappy bowling at home, while Port City Cricket Club delivered a stunning double hat-trick.
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All teams were after a coveted spot in the Australia Day finals, as Nulla were sent in to bat at Wayne Richards oval on Saturday, January 19.
Chris White and Daniel Baker providing some attacking shots early as the team reached four wickets for 129 runs under the afternoon sun in Port Macquarie.
Batsman Ethan Hyde put in the hard yards and 60 runs for Macquarie lifting them ahead to 130 runs, four wickets down for the win with two overs to spare.
Captain Josh Hyde said Macquarie had been undisciplined in the field and bowling but were improving with each match after a big Christmas break.
"We bowled a few wides, weren't bowling to our fielders and that can happen after the Christmas break," he said.
"We did give up 20 or 30 runs in the field, which we could have been restricted them to 100.
"We've improving each week... seem to be better and better.”
Ben Marron and Koby Smith provided an exciting 98 run partnership in Port City Magpies’ win over Kempsey Rovers at Oxley Oval.
Marron smashing 87 runs and Smith not out on 28 to lift the side to four for 150, despite the team losing two wickets to run outs.
The Rovers fell just short of the target at 141 in their innings, wickets were taken by Port City’s Warren Preston with two for 27 runs, Josh Felton with three for 29 and Brendan Badenoch adding three for 23.
The real action heated up in the Port City versus Nulla match, as the latter won the toss and elected to bat.
Badenock quickly gave pause to that plan firing a rare double hat trick with four wickets in four balls – he ended the match with four wickets for 14 runs.
Stumps flew and the fielders were ecstatic as the fast bowling deliveries landed middle stump twice, off-stump and then middle again.
Bowler Warren Preston also added three wickets for 16 runs, to leave Nulla all out on a very reachable 92 runs.
Port City tying up the game at level scores with Ben Marron collecting 38 runs and premier league debutante Sam Jones contributing 11.
In Saturday's other matches United defeated Wauchope RSL, while Wingham won by forfeit against Taree West at Chatham Park.
Wauchope were sent in to bat by United and managed 121 runs for eight wickets against some strong opposition from Samual Whitbread with three wickets for 36 runs.
Ricky Campbell and Dean Mills starred with the bat for United as they collected 62 and 22 runs, raising the five for 123 run total in 15 overs.