And then there was two: The Bin Chooks verses The Lemons.
It was the mighty grand final of the first installment of Busselton’s first ever corporate T20 cricket challenge which took place last week.
The year started out with five teams battling on the cricket pitch with it all coming down to one game on Friday night seeing the grand final played after a highly successful first season.
Barnard Park was the location, with the Busselton foreshore just past the tree lined road and Geographe Bay glistening in the distance, you would struggle to find a more picturesque setting in Australian cricket.
But the spectators weren’t there for the scenery, it was the cricket they were there to watch.
A huge supporter base was there to cheer on the underdogs The Lemons while the favourites, The Bin Chooks had plenty of support in their corner.
Winning the toss, the Lemons coin tosser Jess Dornan had no hesitation in batting first and they were intent on posting a big score.
Jarrod Simpson and Dornan opened the batting and put on 16 before Simpson was out for nine.
Dornan was next to be dismissed for 14 with the score 39 in the sixth over.
Benny Gerrans hit 22 while Aaron Beckett retired on 25.
The Bin Chooks bowling tightened in the second half of the session with Matty Harbeck taking 1 for 8 from two overs.
While Tom Payne only went for 6 runs from his two overs.
Russell Hartley, with 1 for 3 from 2 overs and Sam Pike, 2 for 5 from two were almost unplayable.
Hartley restricted the Lemons to 112 from their 20 overs.
Ben Horrocks stranded with the pads on the next man in was unable to swing the willow.
One hundred and thirteen runs required by the Chooks should have been easy, but cricket is a funny game.
With eight runs from the first over, the Bin Chooks were flying before Sean Beckett was dismissed by Wellings for five; with the score on 10.
Leaney went next without adding to the total but that was basically all the joy for the Lemons as their match went sour.
Russell Hartley quickly retired on 28, before the inaugural season’s Cricketer of the Year Miles Armstrong blasted a rapid 23 runs.
With three 6’s, Tom Payne completed a fine all round game with an unbeaten 27.
The Bin Chooks were flying at 4 for 91 from the first 10 overs and with only 22 more runs required, another two overs is all it took.
The Bin Chooks soon celebrated their achievement which will go down in history as the first ever premiers of the Busselton T20 cricket season.
The club will be keen to go back-to-back next season, but with an increased 10-team competition they could face some tough rivalry.
Everyone involved in the Busselton T20 would like to send a huge thank you to the Power Centre Busselton, Ventura Home Group for their support this season.
The Busselton-Dunsborough Mail also need to be thanked for their sponsorship this year as this couldn’t have happened as successfully without you.
Also thank you to all captains and players for competing in the right spirit.
A big thank you must must also go to Tanya and the City of Busselton for their help throughout the season.
Ellie, Kaveen and Buddhi – thank you for umpiring and scoring this season.
And lastly, thank you to MM Electrical for the barbecue on Friday night after the Bin Chooks claimed victory in our first ever season.
There are grand plans for next year already, with more community interaction, more teams, bright uniforms and other exciting ideas evolving.
For all enquiries, please call Michael at Corporate South West on 0420 576 029.
Thank you Busselton and Vasse for your support.
