Rangers stumble to cricket semi-finals

THREE run-outs cruelled Northern District's innings against top-of-the-table Universities Womens at Mark Taylor Oval.

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THREE run-outs cruelled Northern District's innings against top-of-the-table Universities Womens at Mark Taylor Oval on Sunday.

The home side lost heavily, but will still contest the semi-finals next week. They batted first and Lily Bardsley guided them out of early trouble until the middle order of Wui-Kwan Wong, Philippa Taylor and Zoe Cooke were all caught short between the wickets for single-figure scores.

ND's were all out for 167, which the visitors chased down in their 28th over, for the loss of a single wicket. Universities captain Alex Blackwell, who is averaging 98.8 this season, hit 16 fours to be 104 not out from 81 balls at the end of play.

The male Rangers had more success on Saturday with a comprehensive win over Penrith in a rain-shortened match also at Mark Taylor Oval.

Penrith sent them in and captain and opening bat Jonathon Whealing led from the front. The openers made it to 86 before Justin Moore was caught for 52 an innings that included nine boundaries.

Whealing finished with 61 and the rest of the order batted positively right down to Lachlan Ford at number eight, who hit two fours and two sixes to score 32 not out from 27 balls. Northern District kept the scoreboard ticking at 4.3 per over and declared at 6-258 and handed the job to his bowlers. Dean Crawford took 4-44 and Harry Conway 2-34 as wickets fell at regular intervals. In the 51st over Crawford had Jarrod Lee caught by Ford and Penrith were all out for 185, handing the home team a 73-run win.