MEREWETHER Cricket Club’s gun all-rounder Stephen Pryde has continued his New Year wicket harvest in the Newcastle District Cricket Division One competition.
The in-form Pryde proved best-on-ground when he bagged another five wicket haul in the Lions’ 63-run victory over Port Stephens Pythons in their one-day clash last Saturday at King Park, Raymond Terrace.
He returned the impressive figures of 5-14 off 45 deliveries to help dismiss the Pythons for a modest total of 90 and secure an eleventh win of the season for ladder leaders Merewether (41 points).
It followed Pryde’s recent haul of 7-21 against rivals Waterboard Wests at Connolly Park, which included a hat-trick and swelled his season wicket tally to 29 at an average of 9.28.
Pythons’ stalwart Josh Moxey was the pick of the home side batters with an unbeaten 35 that included six boundaries.
The victory gives the Lions a four point advantage over second placed Wests (37) and puts the club in the box seat to clinch the minor premiership title with four preliminary rounds to be completed.
Cardiff-Boolaroo (35 points) and Maryland Fletcher (33 points) make up the top four at present with reigning joint premiers Port Stephens (32 points) in fifth spot but still in finals contention despite a form lapse.
Merewether won the toss and elected to bat with opener Paul Dan laying the foundations with a stylish knock of 70 off 95 balls, that featured nine boundaries in a total of 153.
Matthew Dean grabbed 3-21 in a seven over spell for the Pythons.
Wests host the Port Stephens first grade X1 this Saturday in another Grand Final re-match at Jesmond Park.
By Chris KARAS
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