What a week in the Busselton T20 cricket competition!
A tie, almost 170 runs off 20 overs and some classic catches saw one of the most remarkable week’s cricket of all time! Where do we start……Monday sounds like a good spot.
Game one of week five saw the Match Fixers take on the Lemons with the Fixers yet to taste victory.
Batting first, the Match Fixers were off to a flying start thanks to Matt Arrowsmith’s six off his first ball and four wides from Ryan Wellings’ first over to be 11 after 1.
Mitch Gerrans tightened up the run rate only conceding four off the second over of the match. Brad Kelly kept the pressure on for the Fixers knocking the ball around the park on his way to an unbeaten 40 runs.
The Fixers run rate gradually climbed and were 50 from only 5 overs. With only 32 coming from the next 5, it was game on with the Fixers looking at about 150 runs from their allotted 18 overs.
Some good tight bowling late in the innings held the Match Fixers to 137 with Kelly and Kent Perkins, 28, both not out. Matt Arrowsmith, 16, skipper Justin Docking, 13, and Bailey Kelly, 10, the others to hit double figures.
Jarrod Simpson, the on-field leader for the Lemons, was he pick of the bowlers with 3 for 12 from 2 overs while Jess Dornan took 2 for 9 from his two overs.
The Match Fixers went into the field confident of victory which would see their first points on the board for the season.
The Lemons changed their batting line up with Ben Horrocks taking over from Jess Dornan as the opening batsman with Mitch Gerrans.
This partnership didn’t last too long with Gerrans out for a duck, Horrocks out for 5 and the number three bat Aaron Beckett out for 9, the pressure was on the Lemons.
The run rate was slowing and at only 4 an over after 6, the Match Fixers were in the box seat.
Rhys Johnsn, one, and David Holmes, one, both came and went before the man of the moment, Paul Christianson, strode out to bat.
Confidence and charisma, not unlike the main character in the James Bond franchise. A 19 ball 25 had him retire to give some hope to the Lemons and help the run rate climb to 6.3 after 10.
Eight overs to go, 74 runs to win. What would happen? Cricket is a funny game.
Ben Gerrans, one, Jess Dornan, eight, and Steve Ritchie, five, all came and went leaving the Lemons needing something special again.
Former opener, Ryan Wellings came in at 10 and scored a 17 ball 28; Jarrod Simpson a 15 ball 25.
The last over was here. Four runs from six balls. Two wickets in hand. First ball was hit for two. Two needed from five. Wicket. Two needed from four. Single. Three balls left, one run needed. One wicket in hand.
In came Brad Kelly to bowl. Batsman swings hard and edges the ball. The ball is skied.
The deep gully fieldsman runs forward in hope to catch the ball. A massive dive ensues with one arm extended and head down.
The batsman cross and make their ground so would win if the greatest catch of the year is dropped. And just like the movies, when the dust settles around the fieldsman, the ball is safely in his hand and the BT20 has its first ever tied match.
Tuesday night was the electric round with both the Heavy Rollers and Son’s of Pithes teams full of electricians and electrical wholesalers.
Batting first, the Rollers opened up with skipper Paul Keen and Chris Wright, (13).
Keen scored gradually but consistently with 6 runs from his first 11 balls before a 6 took him to 100 per cent strike rate. He soon retired with 25 runs off just 22 balls before the Turk, Jamie Terkildsan hit a 21 ball 20.
Glenn Waterhouse hit 16 while Mick Barnes hit 12 to outdo brother Dave.
The Rollers made 118 from their 20 overs.
With Connor Luff and Cam Hyde opening for the SOP’s, the run rate was ahead of schedule with 11 from the first, 12 from the second and 13 from the third had the SOPs at 36 after three.
Hyde was dismissed for 21, while Luff made 10 while Braydon Surrell smashed an unbeaten 18 ball 28. Dennis Armour hit 10 runs and Luke Howlett 9 to get the Pitches over the line in the 14th over.
Wednesday had another close match when the Bin Chooks played the Jack of All Trades.
The Chooks were keen to get back on the winners list after the previous weeks surprise loss. Batting first, the Chooks swung early with 19 from the first over.
Ash Leaney hit 4 but it was Matty Harbeck’s 12 ball 26 runs retired and Miles Armstrong’s 12 ball 26 runs retired.
