In an east coast battle, Lismore and Ballina went head-to-head in the decider of the Walter Taylor Shield.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lismore stepped up to bat and finished their innings on 147 with middle order batsman Brady Toniello top scoring with 43.
Figures of 5-12 off 10 overs from Lismore bowler Sam McLean kept the previously undefeated Ballina side at bay.
Ballina only made 110, handing their rivals the trophy.
While Lismore took the trophy, across town a performance by departing Armidale player Ben Murphy stole the show against Penrith.
Murphy scored 88 runs off 77 balls, took two catches and one wicket in the victory in what may be his final game in Armidale colours before departing for boarding school.
Penrith elected to bat first up and were solid in setting a target for the local team.
Darcy McDermott struck early, claiming opener Stephen Zammit for four.
Murphy then snagged the first of his catches off the bowling of Nick Page when they sent Nathan Lees back to the sheds for 23.
Page then earned the wicket of Ryan Freeman before Kieran Wicks dismissed Bailey Tebbutt and then Raymond Ball.
Murphy and Page combined again to ensure Jed Pryor’s time at the crease was shortlived before McDermott scalped Lachlan Morris.
Kyuss Stewart was the second last wicket to fall with Cotter Litchfield doing the damage before Murphy snagged the final batsmen in Patrick Rowan to have Penrith all out for 139.
Armidale’s Sam Johnson and Hamish Biddle started their side’s run chase in solid fashion before a mix up saw Biddle run out on 11.
Murphy stepped up and made his mark straight away with two fours to start his innings.
Johnson left on 22 and Jordan King came to the crease.
King did his job and let the powerhitter Murphy score the majority of the runs with a deluge of boundaries.
Armidale secured Penrith’s total in 35 overs.
Coach Greg Johnson said it was a great comeback after a disappointing loss to Ballina on Thursday.
“I was extremely proud today, it was what we should have done yesterday,” he said after the match.
“We had a plan today to bat one of the senior kids with one of the more junior kids in the team - the role of the senior kid was to take control of the game and it worked 100 per cent.
“We only did it because we were chasing a target, if we had to set a target I would have had a different batting order.”
He said Murphy was a clear standout.
“I have seen a little bit of Ben over the years and I think that was the best he has ever batted,” he said.
“They were good, solid, cricket shots.”
Johnson said while Murphy stood out on the final day, he was particularly impressed with the efforts of wicketkeeper Ollie Schmude throughout the carnival.
“[Thursday] night a lot of kids got trophies but there wasn’t a wicketkeepers trophy. He’s let maybe four byes through in four games and that is just fantastic.
“And he gives 100 per cent behind the stumps and there probably should have been an award for him.
“It is great to have a kid like that, with so much energy, it lifts the team.
“He doesn’t stop.”