McDONALD’S T20 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
WDEA WORKS SAINTS v PIZZA KITCHEN TIGERS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
SWAN HILL SHOWGROUNDS @ 7PM
WDEA WORKS SAINTSLIKELY LINE-UP
Riley Daniels – Left-Hand Batsman
Bailey Codling – Right-Hand Batsman / Wicket Keeper
Jake Foster – Left-Hand Batsman
Austin McKerrow – (Co-Capt.) Right-Hand Bastman / Right Arm Off-Spin Bowler
Jack Shannahan – (Co-Capt.) Right-Hand Batsman / Right Arm Medium Bowler
Corey Daniels – Right-Hand Batsman / Right Arm Fast Bowler
Matt Barnes – Right-Hand Batsman / Right Arm Medium-Fast Bowler
Dom Violi – Right-Hand Batsman / Right Arm Off-Spin Bowler
Nathaniel Holmes-Brown – Right Arm Fast Bowler
Bailey Talbot – Right Arm Medium-Fast Bowler
Charlie King – Right Arm Medium-Fast Bowler
KEY PLAYER – SAINTS
COREY DANIELS
ONE of the best all-rounders in the league, Daniels holds the key for the Saints title chances.
The competitions joint leading wicket taker with 11, Daniels has also been a very consistent contributor with the bat through the middle order.
Had a quiet game back when they played the Tigers in round two, but will still be the man they need to stop.
PIZZA KITCHEN TIGERS
LIKELY LINE-UP
Glenn Violi – Right-Hand Batsman/Right Arm Medium Bowler
Guri Singh – Right-Hand Batsman/Right Arm Medium-Fast Bowler
Mitch Uhlhorn – Right Hand Batsman/Right Arm Medium Bowler
Darren Rushton – Right-Hand Batsman/Right Arm Medium-Fast Bowler
Jason Mangiameli – (Capt.) Right-Hand BatsmanCooper Fox – Right-Hand Batsman
Stefan Mangiameli – Right-Hand Batsman/Right Arm Medium Bowler
Marcus Mangiameli – Left-Hand Batsman/Left Arm Orthodox Spin Bowler
Daniel Mangiameli – Right-Hand Batsman/Wicket Keeper
Jim Degrigorio – Right Arm Medium BowlerRobert Rush – Right Arm Fast Bowler
KEY PLAYER
GURI SINGH
THE main man for the Tigers with both bat and ball.
Has moved up the order to open the batting through the T20’s with great success, scoring 177 runs @ 29.50 with a highest score of 81.
As well as scoring runs for fun, Singh has also been damaging with the ball, taking eight wickets across the six games with his fast in-swingers.
MATCH PREVIEW
THE WDEA Works Saints will go into tonight’s game against the Pizza Kitchen Tigers as heavy favourites, courtesy of their unbeaten record thus far in season 2021-22.
The Saints got the job done back in round two when they faced off with the Tigers – having batted first, setting Jason Mangiameli’s men a target of 108 to win. Co-captain Austin McKerrow (29) and Bailey Codling (25*) were the saviours with the bat on that occasion, having come together when their side was in trouble at 5 for 60 and putting on a 32-run partnership.
In reply, the Tigers could only muster 83 runs from their 20 overs, despite losing only five wickets, as the Saints bowling attack gave nothing away.
This will once again be the key to the WDEA Works Saints fortunes, as it has been for most of the competition, with their ability to bowl to their field and stay disciplined one of the key reasons for their good form so far.
Corey Daniels and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown are widely regarded as being among the better bowlers in the competition, however Charlie King and Dom Violi have both flown under the radar for the Saints.
While both bowlers have taken just the five wickets for the season, it’s their economy rate that has impressed, particularly with King, as opposition teams have found it extremely difficult to score off either bowler.
If the Pizza Kitchen Tigers are to make it back-to-back flags, they will simply need to get the job done with the bat. Guri Singh and Glenn Violi have consistently got their team off to a flyer, averaging as a combination almost 39 runs per innings opening the batting so far in 2021-22.
It’s not just at the top of the order where their runs have come from though, with the Tigers middle order of Darren Rushton, Jason Mangiameli and Cooper Fox also performing across the tournament when their team has needed it.
The WDEA Works Saints batting depth is equally impressive, as they bat right down the order. Jack Shannahan just oozes class at the crease, while Jake Foster and Bailey Codling have slotted into the Saints batting line-up perfectly, with their aggression at the top of the order consistently getting their team off to a flyer.
Add in the hard hitting of Corey Daniels and Matt Barnes, and the steadiness of Riley Daniels and Austin McKerrow, and the Saints have a very well-rounded line-up.
With the traditionally batsman friendly conditions at the Swan Hill Showgrounds, whoever bats first will need at least 120 in order to post a defendable target.
While a run a ball may not sound like a tough ask to chase, the pressure that comes with chasing in a Grand Final is always worth an extra thirty runs.
In what is shaping up to be another memorable Grand Final between these two sides, it’s hard to go past the impressive form of the unbeaten Saints in terms of trying to find a winner.
Tip – The WDEA Works Saints to be crowned McDonald’s T20 Champions for 2021-22.
