Long-time association star Greg Daniel and a number 10 batsman nicknamed Kenny, after the much-loved movie character, have guided North Albury to a thrilling one-wicket win over ladder leader Wodonga.
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Chris Barrott slapped five boundaries in a 33-run stand with Daniel, who hit the winning runs with his only four.
“Yeah, when cricket’s like that, you’d prefer them to be a little further apart for the old heart,” North opening batsman Ash Borella joked.
Chasing Wodonga’s moderate 139 in provincial’s return to Martin Park for the first time in more than a decade, North appeared to be cruising at 4-95.
But the visitors lost 4-8 to hand the advantage to Wodonga.
However, Barrott regained the initiative with a hard-hitting assault.
“Chris can’t play defence so Chris walked out and played his natural game,” Borella said.
“When it was in his spot, he put it away.”
Chris can’t play defence so Chris walked out and played his natural game
- Ash Borella
His defiant knock frustrated Wodonga’s hopes.
“Everything he hit came out of the middle of the bat, he swung and missed a few, but when he got onto it, he got onto it,” Wodonga coach Dan Dixon said.
“His runs obviously proved critical in the whole scheme of things.”
Barrott joined the club from Bathurst a number of years ago and his team-mates say he bears a striking resemblance to the Shane Jacobson ‘dunny man’ character Kenny from the 2006 film.
“We call him Kenny all the time, I think he loves it,” Borella said.
But Daniel’s coolness certainly can’t be underestimated.
He came to the crease at 3-30, and remained unbeaten on 25.
“He took it on himself, if we were going to win the game, he had to be there, and he did the job, and got us there,” Borella said.
Dixon top-scored on 53 not out.
“The pitch was a little bit slow, there were a couple that kept a little bit low,” he said.
“But I don’t think the deck had much to do with it (the low scores).”
Jack Gilbee was the unlucky batsman, bowled by a Rob Hartnett mullygrubber in the 12th over.
Hartnett and Daniel both claimed 3-25.
Borella continued his consistent season by top-scoring with 37, and when Barrott’s hard-hitting innings ended, the visitors still needed four to win, with Daniel hitting a straight drive off Avery Weilandt.
Byron Hales was superb with 5-40.
North remains in third spot as it looks to snare a top two finish.
“Oh definitely, like it moves us within a couple of points of top spot,” Borella said.
“So the two-day cricket will suit us better, like obviously Greg will bowl more overs and Ryan (Addison) can bowl a few more overs”
There’s now four two-day games left, prior to finals.
North faces two top six outfits, starting with a home match against Albury.
