MOREE District Cricket Association launched the first round of the Domino’s Moree T20 Bash under lights at Ron Harborne Oval last Friday.
The match between Muggleton Cranes and McGregor Gourlay produced star performances by Nimesh Karunarathne and Tom Hatton for McGregor Gourlay, however Muggleton Cranes snatched a last-ball victory as the shadows lengthened.
Club president Grady Sinclair, who hit the winning boundary off the last ball for Muggleton Cranes, said Tom Vanderstok and Tom Hatton opened batting in great form for McGregor Gourlay.
“They put on a first wicket partnership of 47 before Vanderstok was caught on 35 by Matt Lather, off a Tom Britton ball,” Sinclair said.
“Nimesh Karunarathne stuck out the best part of the innings with 44 runs and Tom Hatton also batted really well, with 31 off 45 balls not out.”
Sinclair said Muggleton Cranes were off to a slow start.
“We went into bat and didn’t get a great start with one wicket down for four runs,” Sinclair said.
After a couple of solid partnerships and getting back on track, Sinclair, needing two runs off one ball, whacked a boundary to snatch the win.
Sinclair walked back to the sheds with 71 runs off 53 balls, not-out.
(from left) Darren Bourke, Tom Vanderstok, major sponsor Jill Adams from Domino’s Moree, Moree District Cricket Association president Grady Sinclair and Brady Polkinghorne.
Other supporting performances were Tom Britton with 20 runs off 30 balls, and Matt Lather, with 13 runs off 12 balls.
The 2025 Friday night T20 Bash, an offshoot from the club’s T20 draft competition, is this year proudly sponsored by Domino’s Moree.
“Domino’s here in town have been kind enough to get on board and sponsor us, which is absolutely fantastic,” Sinclair said.
“Mark and Jill Adams are amazing community people and jumped at the offer when asked By Tom Vanderstok.”
On Saturday, Round 3 of the T20 competition saw Camurra Crows (8/153) beat Golfies (6/115) by 38 runs and Moree Thunder beat Maslina Mudcrabs by eight wickets.
Crows batted first, with Grady Sinclair 60 off 34; Tom Vanderstok 34 off 33; and Shaun Mills 21 off 13.
“Golfies bowlers shared the wickets all round with batsmen Darren Bourke, 44 off 33, and Matt Lather, 24 off 18, their best hitters,” Sinclair said.
Bowling for Camurra Crows, Joe Ticehurst starred with 3/16 off four overs, with other wickets taken by Hayden Wiblen, Sam Boland and Ben Day.
In the Thunder-Mudcrabs match, Thunder’s Vishan Mohottige netted 31 runs off 19 balls before being run out by Isaac Barnes.
“Jason Poutawa, with 28 runs, and James Smith on 20, both finished not-out to end the successful run chase for the Thunder – only two wickets down with 23 balls remaining,” Sinclair said.
Thunder bowlers Uditha Samarakoon took 3/7 off two overs and Nimesh Karunarathne took 2/11 off three overs.
Best for Maslina Mudcrabs were Isaac Barnes with 33 off 53 balls; Djordjije Cikota, 27 off 19; and Jacky Johnson, 14 off 10.
Round 2 of the Domino’s Moree T20 Bash this Friday night sees Australian Food and Fibre go up against Nutrien Ag Solutions.
“The game will start at 6pm and it’s sure to be a cracker, just like our first game last week,” Sinclair said.
On Saturday, also at Ron Harborne Oval, Moree Thunder take on The Golfies on the main oval, and Maslina Mudcrabs and Camurra Crows will play on the synthetic.
The ladder going into this weekend’s matches sees Crows and Golfies equal first with two wins from three games and Thunder and Mudcrabs tied for third with one win from three games.
