The action continues to match the stunning weather at the Gloucester Park playing fields, where the Hawks T20 competition showcases the best in community cricket in a relaxed and family friendly setting.
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Game 19 of 42
In a game that would shape the finals race, fourth placed BIGSHOW took on last seasons runners up and fifth placed BUSHCHOOKS. This game was for a position in the top 4, if the Chooks win they push The Bigshow out and go back into 4th place, if Bigshow win they move two games clear at the half way mark of the season.
The Chooks batted first and were in trouble with the top order collapsing to be 4/45 after 6 overs. Scooter Kevill, Cummo and Muzza Murray put on 80 plus runs between them to push the score up to a respectable 154 at the close of the innings.
Bigshow’s fielding was tight and Lukey Johnson returned his best figures for the season of 2/5 from his 2 overs.
The Bigshow now had 20 overs to prove that a bunch of guys with an average age just over 45 had what it takes to be contenders in 2017.
With 3 of the top 4 batsmen out for less than 20 runs it was not looking good for the old boys. Stepping up to the plate and smashing 33 from 23 balls was Matty Jarvis along with Old-Mate Baker who scored at better than a run a ball with his 25 not out.
The lower order combined well with the two babies of the team Blind Man Joel (35 y/o) posting 16 runs from 11 balls and team young-gun Angus (14 y/o) scoring 14 from 14. Just when his team needed quick runs Evo Haward cracked a quickfire 17 from 11 balls to put his team back on track for victory. The Chooks shared the bowling honors having 6 different players picking up wickets with the pick of them being Al Mac with 2/16 which included two misfields that went for 4 runs each. The Bigshow hit the winning runs in the final over to post 8/163 in a classic finish to a great game.
Now this is where the controversy starts… After the game the Stats Guy called in to pick up the scorecards to update the ladder and player stats.
When checking things later that night if was discovered that both teams had mistakes in their scoring.
Firstly the Bushchooks who batted first thought they had scored 154 runs but had actually scored 160 runs…
Hold on it gets worse, then the Bigshow who though they had a target of 155 runs to win posted 163 runs but in a recount had only posted 157 runs. So a series of phone link ups between umpire Neil, the two captains, the Stats Guy and a couple of others with an opinion started the inquiry into what should happen with this result.
After 2 days of to-ing and fro-ing back and forth about the end result the two captains contemplated a rematch.
Umpire Neil's recommendation was that the result should stand because the team batting second went into bat believing that they needed 155 to win the game.
The two captains Seb Donavan (Bushchooks) and Toggo (Bigshow) later in a private conversation and a great show of sportsmanship agreed that the game should be called a draw and share the 2 points.
This is a message to all teams that it is important to concentrate on everything that is put down on the scorecards.
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Game 20 of 42
Thursday night’s game between the reigning premiers Finbats and ladder leaders Madness was a washout and will be replayed this week.
Game 21 of 42
In what was billed as the battle of the battlers two teams that were yet to win a game this season met on Friday afternoon to see who would taste victory for the first time.
Bashers went to the crease first and stumbled to a total of 103 all out with captain Fergo Fergusson 17 from 22 balls and the young man Jacob 21 from 15 balls being the only two batsmen to get going.
The Morkles Pops Newman and Tickets Brewer both picked up 2 wickets for 4 runs off their two 2 overs. When the Morkles went into bat it should have been an easy target to chase down but it wasn't.
With regular wickets falling and a great feilding performance by the Bashers, the Morkles struggled all the way.
Sticky Glew, Tickets Brewer, Brenno and Young-Sam all posted teen high score to help their team limp through for their first win of the season with total of 109. Young Jacob Oakes (son of Col) was great in the field with 2 wickets and a brilliant catch on the boundary off the last ball of the inning whilst his old-man was also serviceable with the ball.
There may not have been many runs scored on Friday afternoon between these two teams but it was a cracker of a game that went down to the wire.
Margaret River Hawks Cricket Club have had their T-20 competition running for 9 years now making it one of the longest running T-20 competitions' in the world.
This is bush cricket at it's finest.
7 teams play every Wednesday to Friday (5pm - 7pm) in the tranquil parkland setting of Gloucester Park right in the middle of town. This weeks games are Wednesday; Finbats v Willow Warriors, Thursday; Bushchooks v Madness, Friday; Willow Warriors v The Big Show.