Matt Hunn shines with bat and ball for Newcastle City

Sunday 11th January 2015

Men’s First Team

Matt Hunn shines with bat and ball for Newcastle City

Kent seamerMatt Hunnwas the hero as he shone with bat and ball on his Newcastle City debut.

City skipperMitch Claydonnamed Kent team-matesBen Harmison,Charlie Hartleyand Hunn in the side to face unbeaten First Grade league-leaders Merewether.

Claydon won the toss and chose to bowl, with Hunn taking the new ball and started by dismissing opener Josh Geary LBW and his partner Ben Egan, caught by Ben Harmison.

Harmison entered the attack and dismissed top-scorer Troy Goodwin for 70 and ended with 1-33 off six overs. Skipper Claydon's nine overs went for 52 runs.

Hunn (4-38 off ten overs) followed up with two more wickets to dismiss Cameron (caught and bowled) and O'Neill (bowled) to restrict the visitors to 205 all out off 49 overs.

In reply, Harmison went for a 13-ball duck as City slid to 31-6 before middle-order resistance from Mitch Claydon (45 from 35 balls) andCharlie Hartley (9 from 16 balls).

Number ten batsman Hunn was the unlikely hero as he bludgeoned 45 from 51 balls to guide Newcastle to a one-wicket win in an unbeaten 89-run stand with Rhys Gallen.

The 21-year-old hit two sixes and five boundaries in an exciting hour at the crease secured City's first two-day win of the season against a side who had a 100 per cent record going into the game.

City captain-coach Claydon told the Newcastle Herald:‘‘Looking at the field they set, it looked like they thought they had it won.
‘‘It was incredible, really. From 70 runs out they played a few shots, and from there you never believe you can win. When we got within 15 to 20, we thought we might do it, and then they whacked the last 15 runs.’

‘‘I think it’ll do a lot for the club in general."

City remain bottom of the overall standings with a game in hand on rivals. Their scheduled 20-over match today was postponed due to heavy rain in New South Wales.

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