TORONTO Workers scored a nerve-jangling outright win over Cardiff-Boolaroo in the Newcastle district cricket match at Ron Hill Oval on Saturday.
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The Kookaburras were in charge for much of the contest, declaring their first innings closed at 3-110 after cruising to first innings points.
Set 107 to win the 10 competition points in the second innings, Toronto started strongly and appeared comfortable at 0-46.
But a stunning collapse saw the home team lose nine wickets for 60 runs.
“It’s probably my fault, I invited it on a little bit,” Toronto captain Paul Toole conceded on Tuesday.
“I changed the batting order around because I wanted some blokes to have a hit. That probably caused a few of the problems.
“It got very tight.”
Cardiff-Boolaroo made 94 and 122.
Toronto replied with 3-110 and 9-110.
The outright points lift Toronto Workers to third on the competition ladder.
But Toole said improvement was needed.
“We’re pretty happy to win outright, but disappointed that we let ourselves get into that tight spot. To lose nine wickets for 50-odd runs is not on. It’s not good enough.”
Toronto lost their ninth wicket, Andrew Somerville, when the scores were level.
That brought No 11 Mitchell Glennie to the crease. But Adrian Chad relieved the tension when he scored the winning runs.
“Adrian rolled his ankle earlier in the day and had to go out to bat on one foot with a runner,” Toole said.
Earlier, openers Nathan Hudson (34) and Griffin Lea (14) got starts, and Logan Johnson (21) made a handy contribution.
Toole said Hudson, in particular, was due for a big score.
“It was a good start, but it’s not enough. I’d like to see more from Nathan. He’s a good player and he needs to be getting bigger scores.”
Toole gave credit to Cardiff-Boolaroo swing bowler Luke Wahlstedt.
“Their young right-armer came on bowling medium-pace inswing and he got the first five wickets to fall in our second innings, which is pretty rare,” Toole said.
Toronto will take on competition leaders Belmont this Saturday at Pat Cahill Oval.
Toole said Toronto faced some injury concerns, with Andrew Jeffrey (hamstring) and wicket-keeper Jeremy Ford (broken finger) out, and Chad (ankle) in doubt.
