Winning the toss against Cowaramup, Hawks skipper Paul Tognolini had no hesitation in bowling first before the pitch was to flatten out later in the day.
Sri Lankan Rumesh ‘Assassin’ Silva and Paul Farmer took the new ball and it was the Assassin with the early breakthrough; Hibberd shouldering arms to the one that went the other way to have the Bulls 1 for none.
When Fraser Oates was dismissed, the home team were 2 for 15. O’Sullivan was next to go, Joyce off Aiden Robins for 13 before Dawson, (8) and Bradshaw, (1) had the home side at 5 for 67.
When Kent caught Kaveen De Silva for 33 the Hawks went up another gear. 6 for 81 turned into 91 all out with Shepherd, Berridge, Sanjeewa and Basset dismissed for single figures. Crimp took 4 for 38 to be the pick of the bowlers, Silva bowling incredibly to have figures of 2 for 4 from seven overs while Aiden Robins finished with 1 for 16 from 4.
Hawks were chasing 92 for victory and went into the run chase confidently. When Garstone was cleaned bowled for a duck on the second ball of the innings by Sanjeewa, followed by Holmes for 1 and Farmer for a first ball duck; Hawks were in trouble at 3 for 1.
The Bulls were up and the Sri Lankan bowlers were on fire. Sanjeewa, bowling at pace with precision finished with 4 for 12 from 9 overs while De Silva finished with 2 for 19 from 8.2.
Joyce and Silva put on a brilliant 61 run stand to guide the Hawks close to victory before Joyce was given out LBW to a short pitched ball that hit him on the shin. Joyce battled through pain to ensure the Hawks gained these valuable points. After the game, he had x-rays on his toe which revealed a fracture. He not only played, but kept wicket before opening batting.
Batting 15 overs to see off the main strike bowlers, and being joined at the crease with Silva and these two almost sealed the win themselves. Silva batted with controlled aggression in posting his second half century of the season which included some huge sixes.
Only requiring 30 runs to win, the Hawks soon lost 4 quick wickets and with Sanjeewa seemingly bowling faster and with more venom, the game was certainly not over. Enter Aiden Robins and Mat Kent. Robins batted under extreme pressure from bowlers and opposition sledging but it was he who had the last laugh, the Hawks picking up the vital two bonus points.
The win puts the Hawks into third with a bye to help players recover for a home game against YOBS the next week. On field performances have already eclipsed previous seasons and with the offfield side of the club flourishing, energy is high at the Nest.
