Harry Darley stepped up his back to bowling programme after injury and helped leaders Ulverstone CC to a thrilling one wicket win over Latrobe Demons in a Cricket North West first grade encounter.
The Worcestershire pace bowler returned to bowling after a glute problem earlier this month and was allowed to bowl five overs with the new ball against Launceston CC and Mowbray CC.
That number was increased to seven in two spells against Latrobe and Darley finished with figures of 7-1-20-2.
He delivered two overs with the new ball but then swapped ends for his second five over stint which brought him wickets in successive overs.
Latrobe were bowled out for 133 in 42.4 overs but batting was also a challenge for Ulverstone who were 77-6 when Darley, who played Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup cricket for the Rapids last summer, went for the wicket.
He made a patient 12 off 32 balls but edged his side to within 16 runs of victory before he was ninth out and then the last wicket pair saw Ulverstone over the finishing line at 134-9 in 32.3 overs.
Darley and his team-mates have won six of their nine games and are one point ahead of Sheffield CC who they take on in the final game before the festive season break next Saturday.
Henry Cullen’s club, Woodville CC, are through to the quarter-finals of the South Australian Cricket Association T20 Cup and will face East Torrens on Saturday (December 21).
It is a repeat of this weekend’s group encounter in which Woodville triumphed by six wickets with two overs to spare after restricting East Torrens to 120-9.
Woodville went through to the knockout stages after winning three of their group matches with Cullen’s best performance his 78 off 55 balls against Adelaide.
Cullen, who has struck four half centuries this winter, picked up two catches and was dismissed for six from five balls after opening against East Torrens.
Ed Pollock’s side, St. George CC, will take on Hawkesbury next weekend in a top three encounter to round off their 2024 action in the New South Wales Limited Overs Cup competition.
St. George are currently lying in joint second spot with 40 points from nine games alongside Hawkesbury with both clubs six points adrift of leaders Parramatta.
Pollock was dismissed for nought when St. George (252 all out) went down by 12 runs to Gordon CC (264-9) in their latest fixture.
Gareth Roderick had a break from action this weekend after a prolific first half of the campaign for Green Point CC in the Western Province Premier Division.
The keeper-batter has scored 469 runs in seven innings at an average of 67.
New signing, Fateh Singh, will now start his spell with Melbourne side Canterbury CC in the New Year.
The spinner had been due to fly out to Australia earlier this month but there has been a delay in obtaining his visa.
