Game 3
Hutt River Dedication 7/151 def by Mildura East 6/164
Hutt River ventured to the breeding ground of weak cricketers such as Jarryd Mills and Sir Geoffry Pascoe to take on Mildura East at the Mildura Showgrounds. Sent into the field in blistering 42 degree heat, the Dedication boys struggled to find momentum after the mornings intense win and East were able to score at a decent clip. Opening bowler Clinton Murdoch delivered a very tight spell for two wickets. Unfortunately his companions were unable to match his economical performance, and were dispatched to all corners of the ground by Jason Harris who is to believed to have gotten lost on his way to cup grade. Dedication's bowlers were not helped by some sloppy fielding - in particular by Falconer who tried to catch like a crocodile devoid of a bottom jaw.
Chasing a total of 164 from 120 balls was always going to be tough, however Burke (29) and Falconer got the side off to a blistering start, smashing the ball onto the trotting track surrounding the oval with a reckless abandon. When Falconer fell for 28 with the score on 61 - hopes were high of a successful run chase given the bulk of the Dedication batting was still to come. Unfortunately these hopes were quickly dashed when McMahon threw his wicket away the very next ball, leaving the East Bowler on a hat trick. Hankinson came to the wicket to face the hat trick ball, which unfortunately for the Dedication skipper turned out to be arguably the delivery of the carnival, trapping Hankinson on the crease and clipping the side of off stump after some viscious movement off the pitch. Thankfully Mills (30) and Garner (29) were able to right the ship in the middle of a Mildura Dust-storm, with a 55 run partnership that was a mix of hard running and cunning strokeplay. Mills playing a textbook double handed backhand down the line for four runs as well as Garner hurdling yorkers for byes were particularly notable. Despite Murdoch's best efforts when Mills was dismissed with the total at 145 - Dedication fell just 14 runs shy of the target for their second close defeat of the tournament.
Chasing a total of 164 from 120 balls was always going to be tough, however Burke (29) and Falconer got the side off to a blistering start, smashing the ball onto the trotting track surrounding the oval with a reckless abandon. When Falconer fell for 28 with the score on 61 - hopes were high of a successful run chase given the bulk of the Dedication batting was still to come. Unfortunately these hopes were quickly dashed when McMahon threw his wicket away the very next ball, leaving the East Bowler on a hat trick. Hankinson came to the wicket to face the hat trick ball, which unfortunately for the Dedication skipper turned out to be arguably the delivery of the carnival, trapping Hankinson on the crease and clipping the side of off stump after some viscious movement off the pitch. Thankfully Mills (30) and Garner (29) were able to right the ship in the middle of a Mildura Dust-storm, with a 55 run partnership that was a mix of hard running and cunning strokeplay. Mills playing a textbook double handed backhand down the line for four runs as well as Garner hurdling yorkers for byes were particularly notable. Despite Murdoch's best efforts when Mills was dismissed with the total at 145 - Dedication fell just 14 runs shy of the target for their second close defeat of the tournament.