TAREE West are in a strong position to take first innings points over Wingham after the Upper Manning side suffered a batting collapse in the Manning first grade cricket clash at Johnny Martin Oval.
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Chasing Taree West’s moderate tally of 235, Wingham have lost four wickets for 16 runs, in the 12 overs they were required to bat.
For the second match in a row, Wingham lost a wicket on the first ball of their innings when Josh Davis cut a short ball from Nayden Moriarty straight to the cover fielder.
Wayne Smoothy also went for a duck in the next over when the ball deflected off his glove and bounced onto the wickets. Stand-in skipper Brock Hynes was bowled by Moriarty for 2 and Ryan Morris was caught and bowled by Brian Levi for 5, leaving Brad Staff (6) and Hayden Essery (0) to continue this Saturday.
Ben Scowen and Matt Essery, both absent, come into the batting lineup and will need to perform for their team to avoid consecutive losses to West.
Moriarty has 2/5, Sean Carr 1/6 and Levi 1/0.
Taree West’s innings was bolstered by half centuries to captain Ben Marron, Paul Cox and Jonathon Burton. Marron and Cox contributed 73 for the first wicket with Marron the aggressor, his runs coming off 22 overs with six boundaries, before being dismissed by Mick Stinson.
Top run-getter Josh Meldrum was dropped before he scored but could only add eight before being caught and bowled by Brad Staff. Dean Mills also failed to reach double figures, being caught at square leg off Davis for 9.
Cox was joined by Burton and they each gave chances which were spilt, while adding 47 for the fourth wicket, during which Cox passed 50. When on 62 Cox was caught behind by Hynes off Ryan Smoothy, who was making his first grade debut. Smoothy claimed his second shortly after by removing Sean Carr (19) in the same fashion.
Burton and Brian Levi put on 37 before Staff broke through, bowling Burton for 60. When Levi was bowled by Davis for 13 Taree West suffered a collapse of 5/10 with Staff bowling Ball and Moriarty then having Scott Meldrum caught to finish the innings.
Wingham missed pace spearhead, Ryan Williams, who was a late withdrawal. Josh Davis did his best to fill the void, finishing with 2/35, but had three catches dropped.
Mick Stinson (1/16) was used sparingly to nurse an injured knee, leaving youngsters Shane Manny (0/58), Josh McTaggart (0/14) and Smoothy (2/32) to chip in. After 16 overs Staff had figures of 1/75 but finished with 5/79 off 18.
Meanwhile competition front runners United has gained first innings points in clash against Old Bar at Chatham Park.
Old Bar crashed to be all out for 93 with United replying with 6 declared for 170.
Old Bar resumes at 0/93 next Saturday.