MOREE senior cricket’s first rep game of the season against Narrabri at Ron Harborne Oval on Sunday started well but ended badly when the visitors went home with a 161-run victory in the MA Connolly Cup.

Narrabri opened batting, with Moree taking two early wickets courtesy of veteran Alf Newman and Nimesh Karunarathne.

Moree club president Grady Sinclair said the good start under perfect playing conditions ended abruptly.

“Moree had Narrabri 2-34 and looked like getting another wicket when Narrabri batsman Jake Brayshaw spooned a square drive to point, only to be dropped,” Sinclair said.

Brayshaw recovered magnificently to tally 125-not out.

“At the end of 40 overs, and Brayshaw’s huge century, Narrabri left the pitch 5-284,” Sinclair said.

Moree’s first wicket fell with Brady Polkinghorne bowled, followed by Matt O’Donnell caught at gully a couple of overs later.

At 2-13, Moree looked in trouble until Tom Vanderstok and Grady Sinclair helped out with a 50-run partnership, taking Moree to 2-68 until Vanderstok fell, followed by Djordjije Cikota in the same over.

“Mac Orr and Alf Newman fought hard at the end of the game but the Narrabri bowling was too good,” Sinclair said.

Moree was all out for 123, giving Narrabri a 161-run win.

Moree opening batsman Tom Vanderstok top-scored with 33 against Narrabri at Ron Harborne Oval on Sunday.

“The game was pretty heated throughout, and we never like getting beaten by Narrabri, but I assured the boys it was a tough hit-out against a great side – they were beaten by Tamworth in last year’s final,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair said better days lay ahead for cricket in Moree, with the season only two weeks old.

“I think we’re building something pretty special again here in town, not only with our rep side but also our local comp,” Sinclair said.

“I see guys batting better every week, and bowling and fielding to a high standard, too.

“Over the past few years, the Moree rep side has been known as a bit of a cowboy outfit, but we showed on Sunday we can bat for long periods under some fierce circumstances, and Narrabri’s bowling attack and fielding are no exceptions,” he said.

“That’s where they beat us on Sunday. Their fielding was too good and I noticed it most when Tom Vanderstok and I were batting – we struggled hitting gaps where we usually would get runs for those shots on any Saturday in the town comp.

“There was about an hour where they didn’t give us much at all. We had to create our own shots and doing that against a quality bowling attack and fielding side can be tough,” Sinclair said.

In Saturday’s town competition, Moree Thunder played Moree Golf Club and Mehi Mudcrabs faced Pally Pub Bulls.

Thunder (2-188) defeated Golfies (7-187) by eight wickets.

Golfies best batsmen were Matthew O’Donnell, scoring 90 and Rustam Maharjan on 46.

Nimesh Karunarathne took 3-32 off six and was the Thunder’s best bowler.

“Thunder batsmen Saumya Jayasundara and James Smith chased down the runs with 67-not out and 56 respectively, with teammates supporting them with positive knocks,” Sinclair said.

Meanwhile, Pally Bulls (258) defeated Mehi Mudcrabs (6-97) by 161 runs.

Pally’s best batsmen were Lachlan Elworthy and Grady Sinclair with 54 and 50 runs respectively. Elworthy and Sinclair were ably supported by Maclean Orr and Harry Downes with good 20-run knocks.

“Rayma Honour’s figures of 2-34 and Hamish Cranney with 2-37, both off six overs, were the Mudcrabs’ best bowlers,” Sinclair said.

“Mudcrabs’ batsmen Abdul Raffay Ahmed scored 39 and Rayma Honour carried his bat with 30-not out, with teammates falling around him. Pally’s bowling and fielding were good all round.”

Moree’s next rep game is away at Gunnedah on Sunday, November 10.

“We’ll be stronger against Gunnedah,” Sinclair said.

Meanwhile, Moree District Cricket Association is seeking expressions of interest from local businesses to become major sponsors of the T20 competition which begins Saturday, January 11, 2025.

“The T20 season will run for approximately 10 weeks,” Sinclair said.

Interested businesses can contact Grady Sinclair on 0404 505618 for more information.