Port Stephens opener Dion Horne has earned the nickname Boycott from his teammates after his patient 53 off 182 balls helped deliver the Pythons a nine-wicket win against Norths on Saturday.
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Horne made just 13 from his first 100 deliveries but it was just the innings his team needed as Norths’ attack was made to toil in the sun and big-hitting No.3 Jarred Moxey took advantage at the other end.
Port were chasing 151 after ageless spinner Jason Eveleigh tore through the Norths line-up on day one taking 6-19 with his left-arm orthodox bowling.
Moxey finished with 65 from 74 balls including seven fours and three sixes after coming in with the score on 40, when Matthew Monaghan copped his third lbw decision of the season to be dismissed by Rex Greaves for 24.
Horne picked up the pace in the second half of his innings hitting four fours and a six. His 50 came up with the winning boundary as Port reached their target in the 55th over.
The Pythons’ are unbeaten after the Christmas break winning their one-dayer against Raymond Terrace and following up with their round 9 two-day victory against Norths.
The bright start to 2019 has Port in sixth spot on 29 points, one point outside the top four and only six points behind second-placed Thornton.
Eastern Suburbs and Thornton also continued their unbeaten start to 2019, with the Griffins accounting for Raymond Terrace and Thornton beating Western Suburbs.
It was Easts’ first back-to-back wins since round one and two of the 2017-18 season.
After making 204 in an even batting performance on day one, the Griffins dismissed Terrace for 159 with Daniel Upward top scoring for the Lions with 42.
Teenager Lachy Wishart picked up 3-11 from 7.1 overs and Josh Hicks put in a marathon effort to take 3-71 from 26. Nick Rinkin also did plenty of work without luck finishing with 1-50 off 20 overs.
Thornton moved up to outright second with a comfortable five-wicket win against Western Suburbs at Thornton.
Chasing 209 for victory, Matt Gabriel top scored with 54, Jono Gabriel and Jamie Krake both made 35, skipper Jake Moore 34 and Peter Garbriel 25 not out.
City United returned to winning form with a hard-fought two-wicket win against Kurri Weston.
Josh Trappel led the scoring with 62, Ricky Dent made 49 at the top off the innings and Anru Kriel finished on 31 not out as City were made to work hard for the win.
Kriel and teenager Cameron Wynn (4 not out) composed themselves at the end of the innings to see their side home after they were 8/186.
Liam Neild continued his fine form for the Warriors taking 4-36 and Alex Seamer (2-67 of 19.4 overs) and Steve Abel (2-46 off 13) picked up the other wickets to fall.
Kurri Weston are third on the table on 31 points. Norths are fourth and Wests 5th both on 30 points. Raymond Terrace are seventh on 26 points and Easts are bottom with 17 after finishing 2018 with just five points and no wins.