Game 1 of 56
Tuesday 7th November "The Cup Day Challenge" was won by a short nose on the finishing line. The Sons of Pitches (previously The Morkles) batted first and posted a 160 run target for the Big Show to chase. Alex "the Sprint Car" Williams was in great form belting 28 at a 200s/r.
Big recruit Holmsey and Jordy Stanbury also contributed with teen high scores in the middle order. The Big Shows stars in the field were the young-gun brothers Aiden and Darcy Bailey who ripped through the S.O.P batting order to share between them 6 wickets for 19 runs from their 2 overs each.
Old Man Baker behind the stumps was in fine form with 3 stumping's and a catch.
The Big Show kept up a steady run chase with Aaron Thompson and Baker both retiring at 25 runs. Chrismus "Happy" Gilmore 22 from 13 balls and young gun Darcy who hit the winning run on the last ball that saw the Big Show post a 1 run victory on the final ball of the match.
Marty Stanbury was the best of the bowlers for the Pitches with 2 for 11.
Game 2 of 56
Wednesday 8th November Bush Choox the losers of the last 3 grand finals in a row batted first against The Bashers and after 10 overs were cruising at 1/90.
Muzza Murray retired with 28 runs at a scorching 233 strike rate and Reece Owen also made 25 retired at a run a ball. The second 10 overs were also at good pace with 7 wickets falling for 75 runs. A total of 165 would be a huge task to chase down. The Bashers Big Joel Moeke was brilliant with the ball snagging 3 wickets for 9 runs. Without the three brilliant team run outs and some good fielding the target could have been much higher.
The Bashers who have been in the competition from the start 10 years ago were in immediate trouble. Looking like copping the traditional hiding first up when they were 6 down for 52 runs at the half way mark.
Ben Dylan and Middsy would put on a steady 20 runs stand to give their Sri Lankan tail-enders a chance to chase down the 166 run total. Buddika and Kaveen belted the Choox attack to the tune of 78 off the last 5 overs to see the Bashers record a 2 run victory off the 3rd last ball of the game. The Bashers, the perennial Wooden Spoonists start the season in the top 4.
Game 3 of 56
Thursday 9th November welcomed our new team into the competition. The Master Batters born from the Hawks Super Rules Football Club won the toss and went into bat first. With a wicket falling on their very first ball in the competition, it was not how they would have liked to start their first season.
Ex-Big-Show run machine Mat Jarvis retired with 26 runs and the Fisher boys (Greg and Harvey) had an unbeaten 30 run partnership at the end to posting a respectable target of 5/150 runs for a first up effort.
The Willow Warriors who finished on top of the ladder last season but faltered in the finals went to the crease needing 7.55 runs per over for a victory.
At 2 for 17 after 4 overs it was not looking good but enter Garsty who belted a 4 and then 3 sixes in a row to then retired but put his team back on track. Zac and Ozzie did their bit with mid 20 scores and then Bobcat with 35 runs hit a four off the last ball to win the game by 3 runs.
Greg Foster 4 for 7 and Joel the Blind Man Lawrance 3 for 8 did their bit with the ball but in the end the Warriors experience saw them through... just.
Game 4 of 56
Friday 10th November saw a heavy weight clash between the Finbats and Madness. Madness won the toss and batted first. At 5/105 after 15 overs, Gribbo and Humphries retired with 25 and 28 and Madness looked like posting a really average low score.
Timmy Fox 29 and Mark Semini 28 batted at over 225 strike rates belting the hapless Finbats bowling attack for 85 off the last 5 overs to lift the total to 190 after 20 overs. Semini scored the first ever 10 run score when he put a no ball into the 9 run net. The Finbats have won 5 of the 9 premierships including the last 3 in a row and if anybody could chase this huge total it would be them. It all fell to pieces and scoring at 6 an over with wickets falling regularly the Finbats were never in the chase.
Harps 28 and Morg's brilliant inning of 35 at the end was the only shining light for the Bats who start the season on the bottom of the ladder. Dan Morro and Breac were brilliant with the ball for Madness, but the star was the two run outs from the boundry by the Mad-Mens captain Pauly-B.
