The best century he had seen played, a last-ball win and Thornton victorious against a top-two opponent before Christmas.
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The remarkable start to the 2020-21 Maitland cricket season hit a new high last weekend for Thornton skipper Matt Gabriel.
"The only thing not falling into place is me getting runs, but everything else is going fine and I think we've finally matured enough as a team to realise we can keep that going if we keep on applying ourselves," Gabriel said.
The win against Northern Suburbs last Saturday was a huge step in the right direction.
The match of the season to date, the Thunder got home with runs off the last ball to secure a 7/257 to 5/256 victory.
"That was the type of game we would have lost last season and the years before," Gabriel said.
"To hold our nerve right to the end and get the runs to win off the last ball gives us a lot of confidence going forward."
Gabriel said it was not only a great win but one of the best games he had been involved in.
It also included the best century he had seen in local cricket with North's Callum Gabriel hitting a masterful 114 off just 141 balls.
"The game had it all. It was a big day for the Gabriels with Cal's century for Norths, Jono getting a 50 for us and Pommy (Peter) hitting the ball everywhere for his 30.
"I was the only one who didn't cash in."
The win leaves Thornton and Northern Suburbs equal on 27 points, four points behind City United who top the table courtesy of their outright win against the Warriors in round five.
The Warriors moved back into the top four on 21 points, four points ahead of Wests, after a fine team performance to secure a 17-run win against Tenambit Morpeth Bulls.
Kurri Weston posted 9/211 with skipper Steve Abel man of the match with 33 and 3-27 as the Bulls were dismissed for 194.
City United spinner Todd Francis continued his outstanding season with a superb 5-9 off 10 overs to tear through the Western Suburbs batting line up at Coronation Oval on Saturday.
Wests were all out for 128 in the 44th over and City made 4/129 off just 24.1 overs in reply.
Francis secured his third five-wicket haul of the season to take his wicket tally from five games to 20.
City hosts Raymond Terrace on Saturday and should continue on their winning ways, despite the Lions picking up their second win of the season after teenage bowling duo Lachlan Page and Brayden Brooks routed the Griffins for 152.
Since losing narrowly to Norths in round three, City have been dominant with the bat and ball and have established themselves as early premiership favourites.
In the other matches on Saturday, Norths host Tenambit Morpeth at Lorn Park and will be looking for a big performance to ease the pain of a last-ball loss.
Easts hosts Wests with the Plovers still smarting from a home loss to the Griffins in round four and desperate to find some form.