Harden put on a clinic this weekend at Tim Doolan Oval in their South West Slopes division two debut against Boorowa Cricket Club.
Losing the toss and being sent into bat, the Harden Hornets thought they were going to have to battle the elements throughout their innings.
With only a light sprinkle of rain, Harden were able to complete their innings, finishing 10/158 after their 40 overs.
Whilst Harden’s top three collapsed earlier for a combined 12 runs, number 4 Drew Arbin swung the momentum with his 34.
The tale wagged with notable contributions from Jack Glover who had 27, Tim Macfarlane with 18, James Woodhead with 23 and Kai Steele with 14.
Boorowa’s bowling attack was led by a great spell from Simon Pye, who had 4 for 13 off his 3 overs.
Boorowa were in trouble early as Hardens Drew Arbin took two quick wickets to have Boorowa 2 for 18.
A partnership from Boorowa’s Cameron Johnson who had 22 and 15 not out from captain Brendon Shean.
20 overs into Boorowa’s innings, the weather started to cause problems with players retreating to shelter as the rain came.
Harden Cricket’s Kelvin Brown said, “we got out onto the field and that drizzle got heavier and heavier until we came off at 20 overs for drinks and yet we didn’t go out again. It was just getting heavier and heavier.”
After some time waiting, the game was called off with Duckworth Lewis coming in effect and giving Harden the victory as Boorowa were at 3 for 60 after 20 overs.
Kelvin was thrilled for Harden’s season to finally be underway, with him saying, “we were pleased just to get a game in, the field was in fantastic condition.”
In other division two SWSCL games, the Young Criterion Hotel Gunners had a dominate victory over the Murringo Mavericks.
Young batted first and finished 10/165 off 37.5 overs due to opening batsman and captain Mark Birks 107 not out.
Young started excellently, having a 71-run opening partnership with Liam Miller scoring 21 to help out his captain.
The Mavericks didn’t give up, with no other Young batter scoring double digits, leaving Birks stranded on 107 off 104 balls with 11 fours and one six.
Murringo’s captain Peter Jolliffe was singlehandedly trying to carry his team to a win, collecting 3 wickets for 26 off his eight overs and getting 27 not out before the rain came.
20 overs in Murringo were 2/46, meaning when the rain forced the match to be abandoned, the Duckworth Lewis rule led to Young Being crowned victors.
The Temora Ex-Services Renegades versus Temora Bowling Club Tigers was unfortunately abandoned mid game.
The Renegades tried to beat the rain and went out singing, getting bowled out in 28.5 overs but still scoring 164. Ben Gersbach was the star for the Renegades with his 71 off 54,before he was stranded and left not out.
The Tigers then went out to bat, with Matthew Young scoring 29 off 23 to lead the Tigers to 3/41 before the rain forced the game to be abandoned just 7.4 overs in.
Unfortunately, not enough overs were played for it to be determined as a match, meaning the Duckworth Lewis couldn’t be used in these circumstances.
In the Temora Shamrock Hotel Leprechauns versus Bribbaree Rams Cricket Club game, Temora won the toss and elected to bowl.
Bribbaree were feeling good after they got off to a great start, being only 2 for 123 off the back of a 48 from Joshua Cameron and a 51 from Mitchell Cameron.
A middle order collapse led to Bribbaree finishing 7/184 off their 40 overs.
Temora came out to bat but was also affected by the rain, having to abandon the game at 2/65 and 12.4 overs into their innings.
Round 7 is now upon us this weekend and the first matchup is the Temora Bowling Club Tigers B Grade versus Boorowa Cricket Club at the Oval.
Also, this weekend is the Bribbaree Rams Cricket Club versus the Harden Country Club Hornets at Miller Henry Oval.
The Young Criterion Hotel Gunners face off against the Temora Shamrock Hotel Leprechauns Sawpit Gully this weekend as well.
The last game this weekend is the Temora Ex-Services Renegades versus the Murringo Mavericks Cricket Club at Nixon park two.
With all the washouts the ladder is very close, with Bribbaree Rams Cricket Club, Temora Ex-Services Renegades and Temora Bowling Club Tigers equal first on 14 points.
The Temora Shamrock Hotel Leprechauns are in fourth place with 10 points and the Harden Country Club Hornets and the Young Criterion Hotel Gunners are equal fifth on six points.
In equal last place is the Boorowa Cricket Club and the Murringo Mavericks Cricket Club on four points. A clear weather forecast has set the stage for a highly entertaining weekend of cricket around the region.
Ed Dodds
