Hutt River Dedication 72 def. by South West 6/74
Dedication started Day 2 cowering in fear, with Haydn Falconer telling everyone who would listen that the opposition's opening bowler was faster than Brett Lee. Bringing back memories of Hadleigh Sirrett, however, the bowler turned out to be nothing special, taking a total of zero wickets. Unfortunately, with all the focus on one bowler, the Hutt River batsmen appeared to forget to bat at the other end. Nobody in the top seven made it to double figures, and only a rearguard partnership by Jarryd Mills (22*) and Ian McMahon (2) saved a total rout. Some freakish catches from fielders who looked like they could barely catch a basketball put the nail into the Hutt River innings, finishing on 73.
An early wicket thanks to a magnificent catch from Ian McMahon off the bowling of Ben Aworth, the Hutt River fans dared to dream of a famous victory. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Whilst the South West batsmen never dominated, the wickets didn't quite tumble fast enough for Dedication. A couple of late wickets to Ben Massey gave a glimmer of hope, but South West ended up making the total comfortably with several overs to spare.
Hutt River Dedication 9/90 def Mighty Ducks 89
After a long lunch break, Dedication took to the field full of renewed energy. An early wicket to Geoff Pascoe (1/17) got the innings off to a good start, but Hutt River's first dropped catches of the tournament let the Mighty Ducks back into the game. Finally, a suicidal run attempt allowed Jarryd Mills to run out the opposition no. 3, and the wickets started to tumble. In one of the least clinical run outs in cricket history, Jake Sluiter picked up the ball at cover and lobbed it to Ben Massey at first slip. Luckily, Massey had plenty of time to saunter up and whip off the bails. Ben Aworth (1/9) destroyed the stumps with a slow ball into the wind whilst Jake Sluiter (3/19) showed his typical ferocity against a young opposition. Sluiter dropped a simple catch off his own bowling, before rattling the stumps the very next ball, and giving the batsman a massive send off. The next over he bowled, however, Sluiter was put into the trees in one of the largest sixes Onion Patch has seen. Brought on to stem the tide of runs, Ian McMahon delivered, taking two wickets in the penultimate over to help prevent the Mighty Ducks reaching 100. The innings was finished with Hutt River's third run out for the day.
The Hutt River run chase got off to an uncharacteristically confident start, racing to 1/43. Mitch Smith (36) drove the innings, whilst Jarryd Mills (6) and Adam Burke (6) provided valuable support. Two quick wickets then saw Dedication at 3/48, with Smith's dismissal making Dedication's fans very anxious. Wickets continued to fall regularly after that, with no batsman between 3 and 10 reaching double figures. For the first time in his life, Jake Sluiter was given a bigger send off than he dealt, when he was caught for zero from seven balls. After a controversial drinks break at 15 overs, a privilege not offered during Dedication's stint in the field, the required run rate started to creep towards a run a ball. When Tyler Hankinson was dismissed due to a dubious stumping, Hutt River were left with nine runs to get and just a single wicket remaining. Coming in at number 10, Jack Leo quickly reduced that deficit to five with a magnificent boundary down the ground. A two off the next ball, and a single from the second last ball of the penultimate over brought the equation to two runs needed from seven balls. A solid defence from number 11 Ian McMahon left Leo with the task of finding two runs from the last over to win.
Drama struck two balls into the final over, when McMahon, striving to get back to his crease, rolled an ankle. Barely able to support his weight, it was clear that he was not going to be running the winning runs. The umpires requested somebody of the same age or size to be sent in as a runner, but as none were available, Adam Burke was sent instead. Deciding to place the maximum pressure on himself, Leo steadfastly faced out five dot balls, setting himself the task of scoring two from the final delivery for victory. With the field up to prevent singles, Leo calmly blasted the ball over cover for an easy two, giving Hutt River the victory by a single run.
Dedication started Day 2 cowering in fear, with Haydn Falconer telling everyone who would listen that the opposition's opening bowler was faster than Brett Lee. Bringing back memories of Hadleigh Sirrett, however, the bowler turned out to be nothing special, taking a total of zero wickets. Unfortunately, with all the focus on one bowler, the Hutt River batsmen appeared to forget to bat at the other end. Nobody in the top seven made it to double figures, and only a rearguard partnership by Jarryd Mills (22*) and Ian McMahon (2) saved a total rout. Some freakish catches from fielders who looked like they could barely catch a basketball put the nail into the Hutt River innings, finishing on 73.
An early wicket thanks to a magnificent catch from Ian McMahon off the bowling of Ben Aworth, the Hutt River fans dared to dream of a famous victory. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Whilst the South West batsmen never dominated, the wickets didn't quite tumble fast enough for Dedication. A couple of late wickets to Ben Massey gave a glimmer of hope, but South West ended up making the total comfortably with several overs to spare.
Hutt River Dedication 9/90 def Mighty Ducks 89
After a long lunch break, Dedication took to the field full of renewed energy. An early wicket to Geoff Pascoe (1/17) got the innings off to a good start, but Hutt River's first dropped catches of the tournament let the Mighty Ducks back into the game. Finally, a suicidal run attempt allowed Jarryd Mills to run out the opposition no. 3, and the wickets started to tumble. In one of the least clinical run outs in cricket history, Jake Sluiter picked up the ball at cover and lobbed it to Ben Massey at first slip. Luckily, Massey had plenty of time to saunter up and whip off the bails. Ben Aworth (1/9) destroyed the stumps with a slow ball into the wind whilst Jake Sluiter (3/19) showed his typical ferocity against a young opposition. Sluiter dropped a simple catch off his own bowling, before rattling the stumps the very next ball, and giving the batsman a massive send off. The next over he bowled, however, Sluiter was put into the trees in one of the largest sixes Onion Patch has seen. Brought on to stem the tide of runs, Ian McMahon delivered, taking two wickets in the penultimate over to help prevent the Mighty Ducks reaching 100. The innings was finished with Hutt River's third run out for the day.
The Hutt River run chase got off to an uncharacteristically confident start, racing to 1/43. Mitch Smith (36) drove the innings, whilst Jarryd Mills (6) and Adam Burke (6) provided valuable support. Two quick wickets then saw Dedication at 3/48, with Smith's dismissal making Dedication's fans very anxious. Wickets continued to fall regularly after that, with no batsman between 3 and 10 reaching double figures. For the first time in his life, Jake Sluiter was given a bigger send off than he dealt, when he was caught for zero from seven balls. After a controversial drinks break at 15 overs, a privilege not offered during Dedication's stint in the field, the required run rate started to creep towards a run a ball. When Tyler Hankinson was dismissed due to a dubious stumping, Hutt River were left with nine runs to get and just a single wicket remaining. Coming in at number 10, Jack Leo quickly reduced that deficit to five with a magnificent boundary down the ground. A two off the next ball, and a single from the second last ball of the penultimate over brought the equation to two runs needed from seven balls. A solid defence from number 11 Ian McMahon left Leo with the task of finding two runs from the last over to win.
Drama struck two balls into the final over, when McMahon, striving to get back to his crease, rolled an ankle. Barely able to support his weight, it was clear that he was not going to be running the winning runs. The umpires requested somebody of the same age or size to be sent in as a runner, but as none were available, Adam Burke was sent instead. Deciding to place the maximum pressure on himself, Leo steadfastly faced out five dot balls, setting himself the task of scoring two from the final delivery for victory. With the field up to prevent singles, Leo calmly blasted the ball over cover for an easy two, giving Hutt River the victory by a single run.