Raymond Terrace are Maitland first grade cricket champions for 2018, after a valiant ninth-wicket partnership by Northern Suburbs wasn’t enough to run down the Terrace’s mighty 301-run target.
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Cal Gabriel’s (58) and Ben Sayers’ (46 not out) partnership gave Norths a glimmer of hope as they closed the gap to 253 off of 74.1 overs late on the second day, but ultimately the 301 target set by Terrace was too great a mountain to climb for Norths.
“It dragged on a bit longer than it should have, but I had faith in the boys to get it done,” Terrace skipper Steve Smith said post-match.
Smith nominated dominant bowlers Nick Savage (five wickets) and Aaron Bills (three) as the side’s most impressive, with the pair tearing through the Norths batsman throughout the second day.
It’s been an impressive finals campaign for Savage, who also claimed five wickets in their semi-final win.
Lincoln Mills started strongly for a Norths team which had a mammoth 301 target to reach.
Mills slogged his way to 71 before being caught out.
Terrace danger men Savage and Bills then tore through the Norths batting order, before Gabriel came in and steadied the ship.
Gabriel and Sayers’ partnership delivered 104 runs, but it wasn’t enough for Norths.
It came after the Terrace Lions mastered the heat and the Norths’ bowlers on day one at Robins Oval, with teenage all-rounder Jacob Page making 63 and Jonathon Halloran 67.
Openers Joe Harden (27) and Shannon Bills (20) contributed strongly, giving the Lions a solid start.
It dragged on a bit longer than it should have, but I had faith in the boys to get it done
- Raymond Terrace skipper Steve Smith
Norths all-round Mills got the breakthrough dismissing Bills lbw with the score on 38 and captain Smith caught by Will Fort for one.
Harden fell to a brilliant low catch in slips by Matthew Sugden off the bowling of Ben Sayers.
Jaymes Thomas (37) and Page steadied the innings, punishing anything loose to take the score from 3/57 to 4/125, when Thomas was caught by Cael Smith off the bowling of Will Fort.
Page and Halloran combined for a 100-run fifth-wicket partnership scoring at more than five runs an over. Halloran hit eight fours and two sixes in his 67.
Norths bowler Callum Gabriel broke the partnership dismissing Halloran and then capturing Page soon after to leave Terrace at 6/234.
The Lions tail wagged with Mitchell Pinch making 26 and Will Maher 30 to push the total beyond 300.
Norths bowlers shared the wickets.
Callum Gabriel took 2-35, Jordan Callinan 2-49, Ben Sayers 2-55 and Lincoln Mills 2-65.
Cael Smith and Will Fort picked up a wicket each.
