MURRABIT has taken out the first grand final rematch of the Northern District Cricket Association season against by two wickets.
Searching for revenge after their 64-run defeat in last year’s decider, a depleted Barham side fought the game out to its bitter end but couldn’t overcome the competition’s yardstick.
Choosing to bat first appeared to be the wrong decision early on as Barham fell to 4/29.
Murrabit opening bowler Nathan Henry was fantastic, bowling his entire quota of eight overs in his first spell and finishing with the economical figures of 2/8.
Missing captain and last season’s top run scorer Chameera Akurugoda, Barham first drop Jade Stewart stood tall amongst the carnage.
He batted through the innings to finish 64 not out from 90 deliveries, helping give his side the more than defendable total of 163.
Stewart was partnered well throughout the middle order, finding reliable partners in Nathan O’Toole (20) and Michael Puddick (21).
However, when Puddick departed with the score at 6/79, a quick clean-up of the tail looked on the cards.
Max Snowdon (27) had other ideas, combining with Stewart for an 84-run seventh-wicket partnership.
The chase got off to a rough start for Murrabit, losing last week’s top scorer Simon Ettershank for three.
It was smooth sailing for the majority of the remainder of the innings as skipper Tim Millard (27), Nathan Henry (52) and Simon Kelly (18) ensured a measured run chase.
There was a stumble late in the innings when the Blues lost three wickets for 11 runs, but the total of 163 proved 20 runs short, allowing Murrabit to remain the only undefeated team after two rounds.
