And the Busselton T20 season is here once again! With the Lemons unveiling their premiership flag from season 2018/19, they were keen to get a win on the board in front of their fans and against the Jacks of All Trades.
Batting first, the Jacks took 17 from the first 2 overs, with Cam Roberts the main destroyer with a retired 28 runs from his bat. Dave LaMotte and Dylan Tomlinson both retired with 25 runs to their names while no one else really troubled the scorer to have a total set of 120 runs. Paul Christianson doing most of the damage with 2 for 6 from his 2 overs. Aaron Mott, in his first bowl in a competitive game of cricket in 15 years, took the prized scalp of Lachie Campbell for 5.
Ben Gerrans and Glenn Anderson made the perfect start in the Lemon's run chase, with 45 runs coming from the first 6 overs before they both retired on 25 and 30 respectively. Ryan Clarke, batting at 5, hit 26 not out, to get the Lemons premiership defence onto the perfect start with a 7-wicket win.
Game 2 saw the closest match in week 1 of the season, with the Son's of Pitches up against the Fine Legs. Shaun Scadden, using his free hit to full potential, hit a massive 6 of Braden Surrell's first ball of the match, before going on to score a game high 33 runs. Darren Cummins came and went for 1, before Shanks unbeaten 25 took the Fine Legs to 116 from their 17 allotted overs. 15 not out from number 10 Azza Smith and 10 from Justin Chandler, the only others to make double figures. Dennis Armour, 2 for 7 from 2, was the pick of the Pitches bowling.
Ethan Miles, 31, was the only Pitches player to retire, before coming back out and be dismissed by Damien Madden. Cameron Hyde, 19, and Graham Wyatt, 11, were the only other batsmen to hit double figures. But it all came down to the last over. 3 runs, 1 wicket, 6 balls.
When a short ball from Madden was bowled, Miles hit it out of the middle of the bat and it was game over for all concerned, the ball destined for the boundary line....except for Darren Cummins. With a screamer of a catch, Cummins caught Miles and the Fine Legs won the match by 2 runs.
Game 3 had the Match Fixers batting first against the Bin Chooks. Jarrod Bailey hit a rapid 36 runs, with three 6's and three 4's, while Glen Van Sheik, 22, Corey Rickard and Kent Perkins, (both 16 runs) and Kim Butler, 10 not out, saw the Fixers make 144 from their allotted 17 overs. Dan McKeon taking 4 for 16 from his two overs was the standout bowler. Ash Leaney continued from where he finished last season, and retired on 25 runs. Miles Armstrong, fresh from a man of the match performance in the Busselton All Stars CC match, hit 28 not out while Chris Brook struck an unbeaten 29. And with 14 runs to man of the match McKeon, the Bin Chooks scored the winning runs in the 15th over.
Game 4 was the Heavy Rollers up against the Swingers. With Mahesh and Shanks opeing the batting, the Rollers were keen for a good start. Unfortunately, Mahesh was soon dismissed and when Gary was out, the Rollers were 2 for 17 in the 4th over. 14 from Shanks, and an unbeaten 20 from Durham, the Rollers set the Swingers 85 for victory. Tom Begley retired on 25 while his opening partner, Watson, was dismissed for 2. When Tenardi was out for 12, and Arbon for 19, the Swingers were 3 for 59 in the 9th over. An unbeaten 13 from Tye Denton saw the Swingers get over the line with 5 overs to go, to bring an entertaining week of T20 cricket to an end.
