BEVERFORD Tavern Demons secured their place in the McDonald’s Swan Hill T20 grand final with a 30-run win over the Phones R Us Blues on Saturday.
Heading into the day’s double header, knowing they had the bye – and therefore confirmed points – second up, a win against the Blues was all they needed to reach Thursday night’s decider at the Showgrounds.
The Demons lost young gun Charlie Boulton early before Shane Fleming (45) and Joel Walsh (60) steadied the ship with a 104-run second-wicket partnership.
Walsh has found form at the right time after a tough start to the season. His blitz came from a mere 33 balls and included five sixes.
After Charlie Kingwell (3/22) had slightly pegged it back for the Blues with three quick wickets, some late innings power hitting from Joshua Domaille (18 not out) and Bailey Cockfield (18 not out) took the Demons to 4/177.
Cockfield ensured his side had the momentum, smashing two massive sixes from the first two balls of Brenton Caldwell’s (0/22) final over.
If the Blues were to chase down the mammoth target, superstar opener Ryan Hinton would need to do the bulk of the damage.
Hinton (70) partnered with skipper Ben Hallam (22), who played second fiddle to his more explosive partner in a 100-run opening stand to give the Blues life.
That was as close as they got, though – the Demons were able to peg the innings back courtesy of some tight bowling from Drew Lloyd (2/15) and Walsh (1/17).
Tigers vs Wandella round 6
AUTOPRO Wandella produced one of the shocks of the season and delivered a dagger blow to the Pizza Kitchen Tigers’ grand final claims, claiming a six-wicket win at Woorinen Recreation Reserve.
With nothing to play for but pride in the T20 competition, it was a superb performance from a Wandella side who welcomed back captain and gun bat Gregory Dickson.
For the Tigers, though, the must-win game was the tale of the one that got away, derailing their hopes of a third T20 grand final berth in a row.
The day couldn’t have started any worse for the Tigers, losing Glenn Violi early to a Bohden McKnight runout.
In-form opener, Cooper Fox (68) once again dominated and found a willing partner in Mitchell Uhlhorn (34).
After Saturday’s games, Fox finished the T20 season as its leading run scorer with 232 runs at an average of 38.67.
A quick-fired 19 not out from Stefan Mangiameli got the Tigers to the 140-run barrier, but it proved to be just short of what was required as Wandella chased it down with four balls to spare.
A golden duck to in-form opener Patrick Oliver courtesy of Gurmander Singh gave the Tigers a great start that was cancelled out by a quick-fire 28 from Dickson.
Singh had a great day with the ball, snaring 3/24. Robert Rush also enjoyed a good day out with his 1/9, but the Tigers’ third and fourth bowling options would prove to be their downfall.
A 58-run fifth wicket stand from Luke Murray (32) and Daniel Higgs (31) scrapped Wandella over the line in a thrilling finish.
Saints vs Roos round 6
BEING in the same boat as the Tigers heading into the day with a first-up win crucial, the WDEA Works Saints put in a commanding performance against the Stihl Shop Roodogs.
The nine-wicket victory came off the back of a tidy bowling performance as the Saints restricted the Roos to a well below-par 4/106.
It would have been a lot less if not for Roos wicketkeeper Aydan Symons, who hit a composed 54 not out.
As is usually the case with the Saints, all their bowlers, while not blowing the opposition away, proved too tough to get away.
The Saints made light work of the target as Jake Foster (43) continued his brilliant season with the bat.
Not to be outdone, Bailey Codling (31 not out) and Corey Daniels (29 not out) ensured some extra rest before their next game, winning with eight overs to spare.
Tigers vs Saints round 7
AFTER the day’s opening round results, it left the Saints six points and percentage clear of the Tigers in the chase for the second grand final berth.
It meant a big win was required for the Tigers, but their total of 7/129 killed off any hope, even if they could defend it.
Fox (47) was again the Tigers’ best with the bat and at 2/117 with Uhlhorn (29 not out) set, they looked ready to launch.
An almighty late innings collapse of 5/12 swung momentum in the Saints’ favour, however.
Saints skipper Nathaniel Holmes Brown (2/27) and spinner Austin McKerrow (2/24) were the best with the ball in another frugal display from arguably the best attack in the competition.
Foster (45) and Codling (24) took a big chunk out of the total with a 72-run opening stand.
While the Tigers made the scoreline look more respectable, finishing with six wickets, there was never any danger for the Saints, who set up their date with the Demons in the grand final.
Wandella vs Blues
WANDELLA made it two from two with a 13-run victory over the Blues.
After the Blues elected to bowl, Caldwell (3/17) was everywhere – taking wickets, getting runouts and swallowing catches.
Not even Caldwell had an answer to Dickson, though, who smashed 73 from 55 balls.
Dickson now has 225 runs at 75 from four matches this season and is clearly one of, if not the best, batsman in the competition at the moment.
His blistering innings gave his side a total of 144 and the Blues never really looked like chasing it down.
Ryan Barnes’ early wicket of Ryan Hinton was huge, and if it weren’t for Stuart Patterson (40) and Caldwell (44), it would have been a lot worse for the men from North Park.
The Blues finish the T20 season winless, while Wandella will head into Christmas in the SHDCA’s main competition top four, with the T20 points also going to the overall ladder this season.
Roos vs Swans
THE Tyrell Cricket Swans prevailed in a last-ball thriller against the Roos.
Coming into the contest fresh after a bye in the first round of the day, the Swans’ resurgence is becoming more evident every week.
The win was their third in a row and they finished the T20 season third, missing the grand final due to a poor percentage.
Chasing 112, Lachlan Edwards (22) and Andrew Clark (19) went hard against the new ball on a tricky pitch.
When Jake Hatcher departed for nine with the score at 5/72, it left Swans coach Nathan Spicer (23) a lot to do with the tail.
A quick-fire 10 from Brady Hogan swung momentum back in the Swans’ favour after a terrific spell from Roos spinner Cassidy Sibley (2/18).
Spicer batted well with the tail, but when he was strangled down the leg side with seven runs still needed, the contest was up for grabs.
Milan Hooper was the hero, hitting a trio of twos in the last over to sneak his side over the line.
Earlier Kyle Symons (62) put in a man-of-the-match performance, making batting look easy on a pitch that certainly wasn’t.
The Roos’ total of 111 should have been much more, but a brilliant death bowling display from Alan Hatcher (2/18) and Clark (2/22) brought the game back to an even keel.
The batting side was held to only got 20 from their last five overs in what proved to be the game’s deciding period.
