SIX weeks ago, Beverford Tavern Demons suffered a poor nine-wicket loss to the WDEA Works Saints in the McDonald’s Swan Hill T20 competition.
It could have very easily derailed the men in red’s season – in fact, it turned out to be the loss the Demons required to ignite the fire in their bellies.
Since that day, they have been the in-form side of the competition, easily winning their next four games to secure a place in Thursday night’s grand final at the Showgrounds.
But they must face the side that tore them apart earlier in the season – the Saints.
The association’s T20 specialists, the Saints will play their fifth grand final in a row.
Like the Demons, they have only dropped one game in the competition this season – besides a shock loss to a young Tyrell Cricket Swans, they have decimated every opponent.
Jake Foster (212 runs at 53) has been arguably the best batsman in the competition.
His ability to put the pressure back onto the opposition attack has been incredible and he has had ample support from opening partner Bailey Codling (104 at 34) and Jack Shannahan (120 at 40).
This dominance from the top order has been vital to their success, but it could mean their middle order is left feeling a little underdone heading into the big dance.
If the Demons can break through early with Joel Walsh (seven wickets at 14) and Drew Lloyd (3 wickets at 18), that dominance of the top order might prove to be a fatal reliance for the Saints.
So far, the issue for the Demons this T20 season has been their secondary bowling options.
If Foster and his accomplices can get through Walsh’s opening spell, it will go a long way to winning them the match.
The Demons need more from their third, fourth and fifth bowling options and will be relying on a big game from captain Ben Shadbolt, who has taken three wickets at an average of 40 in T20s this season.
Cooper Andrews is a possible X-factor with his knack for picking up wickets in clumps, highlighted by taking 3/29 and 2/21 a fortnight ago against the Tigers and Roos.
Strength with the bat that makes the Demons a formidable opponent, though.
Since Walsh found his feet this campaign, he has rattled off scores of 44 from 23 deliveries, 82 not out off 31 and 60 from 33.
The league’s most dangerous batsman couldn’t be in better shape and he has the troops around him to ensure he’s not doing it alone.
Charlie Boulton just keeps getting better and better with the bat – the young opener has made 131 runs at an average of 26 in T20s this season.
Experienced campaigner Shane Fleming has been Walsh’s preferred partner, though.
The duo has combined for 104 and 95-run partnerships across the past fortnight.
This time, they face an economical Saints attack which has only conceded 621 runs in the competition this season and taken 39 wickets, 11 more than the Demons.
Saints skipper Nathaniel Holmes-Brown leads the competition wicket charts with nine wickets at an average of 12.67 and is followed closely by team mate Robin Sebastian (eight wickets at 10).
Get through those two, and there’s still Charlie King and Corey Daniels to contend with.
Off-spinner Austin McKerrow, while a difficult proposition in his own right, might need to be the guy Walsh and co target.
What makes the Saints such a great T20 side is how well their fielders back up their bowlers, a major weapon in this form of the game.
A burning question heading into Thursday night is what will Shadbolt or Holmes-Brown choose to do if they win the toss.
Going by form, Holmes-Brown would be hard-pressed not to elect to send the Demons in and give Foster and Codling something to chase.
The Saints have chased in their previous five T20s.
If Shadbolt can win the toss and send the Saints in, it just might disrupt their rhythm.
Whatever occurs on Thursday evening, it is sure to be a thrilling contest.
If Walsh can get firing, he could single-handedly drag the Demons over the line, but the evenness of the Saints means they go in as favourites to a contest where they’ll be hoping to win their fourth T20 flag in five seasons.
