City United have set the competition alight with a huge performance to bowl Kurri Weston out twice and claim outright points in just under 98 overs of the allotted 100 overs of play on Saturday.
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A magnificent 101 not out off just 57 balls by Josh Trappel, including 11 sixes, enabled City to declare on 3/241 off just 23 overs after Tim Burton tore through the Warriors with 7/25 as Kurri Weston collapsed for 112 off 28.1 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
With 48 overs to bowl and a lead of 129, City skipper Matt Trappel sent Kurri Weston back into bat. Todd Francis led the way with the ball in the second innings taking 5/58 off 14 overs as the Warriors managed 153 off 42.1 overs in their second dig.
Needing 25 runs for victory, City smashed 1/27 off 3.1 overs to pull off one the most memorable outright wins in the club's history.
It was back-to-back centuries for Josh Trappel, who scored 116 in last round's win against Raymond Terrace, and Francis' second five-wicket haul in a row after his 7-33 also against the Lions.
While there were stand out performances, Trappel said it was a magnificent team win with the bowlers in particular backing each other up by creating enormous pressure on the Kurri Weston batsmen.
"It was a massive team effort to get an outright in a day in such tough conditions," he said.
The game at Kurri Central had been reduced to 100 overs on Saturday after Maitland and District Cricket Association enforced the association heat policy and cancelled play on Sunday with temperatures of 39 and 44 degrees forecast at Kurri across the two days.
The game was played under two-day conditions and an outright win was possible, but no one would have dreamed at the start of play that City would collect maximum points in such trying conditions.
Trappel said the opening bowling spell from Tim Baker and Burton set the tone for the day.
"It was as good as it gets. Baker only picked up the one wicket, but definitely helped applying pressure with Burto ending up with 7/25 off 14 overs straight in tough conditions," he said.
Spinners Nick Baker and Todd Francis picked up a wicket each.
If Baker and Burton had set the tone with the ball, an opening partnership of 64 off just six overs by openers Andrew Vickery (44) and Karl Bowd (42) created not only the impetus for a win but an outright victory.
Enter Josh Trappel who delivered a masterclass in clean hitting to all parts of the ground. He finished unbeaten on 101 with 11 sixes and three fours from just 57 balls.
Todd Francis (34) and Matt Trappel (18 not out) kept the runs flowing and Trappel declared on 3/241 giving his side a 129-run lead.
"We started perfectly with two early wickets from Tim Baker. It was always going to be hard getting 20 wickets in the heat but the boys lifted led by Todd who finished with 5/58 off 14," Trappel said.
"We were able to bowl Kurri out with five overs to go. Nick Bower finished with 2/5 with Andrew Vickery picking up the other wicket.
"We were left with 25 off five and we finished in four overs one down."
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