Veterans pivotal in North County’s first win

Led by vastly experienced veterans Craig Tonkin and Neil Ferreira, North County have secured their first win of the 2017-18 Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition, downing Royals by 29 runs at Turf West on Saturday.

Tonkin and Ferreira proved the difference in the close contest, as the Bulldogs were able to defend the 214 they had put on the board earlier in the day.

After his side won the toss and chose to bat, Tonkin helped set the platform with a 63-run opening stand with Brendan Dovey and eventually went on to make a composed 75.

Tonkin and Ferreira were the mainstays of the Bulldogs innings, the pair putting on 79 runs together after Ted Batchelor’s initial breakthrough before fellow veteran Ian Attwell removed Tonkin in the 32nd over.

Wickets fell regularly for the Lions after that but Ferreira continued to score freely as he reached his first-half century in Bulldogs colours. Ferreira fell to seamer Marcus Mellon in the deep on 64, an innings that included seven boundaries, as his side went on to reach 8-214.

Mellon bowled well in his nine over spell to return 1-31 while Attwell (2-28) was the only multiple wicket taker.

In reply, the Lions made a steady start through import Shameer Ahmed and Digby Nuthall but the loss of Ahmed trapped lbw for 11 and then Tom Wolfe for four, leaving their side at 2-47.

Nuthall and Matt Wolfe steadied things for the Lions but the Bulldogs dried the scoring up through the middle overs.

Nuthall was removed for 42 and Wolfe went on to score a half century, before his knock came to an end on 61 when he was stumped off the bowling of Ferreira.

The Lions needed 11 runs per over in the final five overs and fell short, reaching 8-176. Ferreira was the key with the ball taking 3-27, which included the key wickets of Jack Hastie and Ian Atwell.