The Margaret River Big Bash has had some amazing support from its local sponsors in 2018. Glen and his team at Chicken Treat have been associated with the T20 for many years and continue to sponsor many different causes in our community. Riverfresh IGA has been one of the biggest supporters of local community activities and employed hundreds of locals over many years. Kitchen Formations have been installing quality renovations in Margaret River for over 15 years and use all local tradesmen in their projects.
GAME 45: Tuesday afternoon saw equal top team Willow Warriors and perennial cellar dwellers the Bashers meet. Bashers took down Madness in the last top V bottom clash and all eyes were watching to see if it could happen again. The Bashers were a bit slow out of the blocks with local music man Cody Robson the only batsman in the top 4 to make double figures with 17 from 23 balls. At quarter time they were just 0/24 with a run rate under 5 from their power play.
The start of the second quarter saw it all fall apart for the Bashers with the loss of 5 wickets for 20 runs in the space of 30 balls to be in big trouble at 5/46. Bashers Captain Brad (15 from 21) and the Old Man of the team Colin Oakes (21 from 25) put some respectability back into the scorecard with a partnership of 34 runs during the next 6 overs. It was not a good day for the Bashers and they ended up on 8/93 from their 20 overs. The Warriors’ Bobcat was all over the Bashers with the ball taking 4 wickets for 14 runs from his 2 overs, both Owen Blowing and Jamie Whal' picked up 2 wickets each for 7 runs. The Warriors run chase started with them needing just 4.66 runs per over and Tinny gave them a great start they needed with 22 runs from 18 balls to help his team reach 1/43 after the power play. It looked like the run chase could be over by half time with Zac Fagan exchanging keeper’s gloves for batting gloves and clouting 25runs retired from 14 balls and the score was 3/77 at half time. Jamie Wholagan backed up his two wickets by retiring on 25 and was given man of the match.
The winning runs came In the 13th over with a boundary on the first ball. The third quarter saw 1 wicket fall with 37 runs added. The Warriors Chief in Charge Ozzy took to the bowling attack in the final 5 overs to be the 3rd retiree of the innings with 27 runs off 16 ball. In the end Warriors finished on 4/153 taking a 60 run victory and two premiership points to give themselves a possible double chance when the finals start. For the Bashers Nico Van Loon continued his great form with the ball this season to take 3 wickets for 7 runs from his allotted 2 overs.
GAME 46: Wednesday’s clash saw two teams that are separated by just one point on the ladder with top of the table Madness taking on 4th placed Bush Choox. The Choox went into bat first and Muzza did as he has done on many occasions this season smashing the bowling attack to all parts of the park. He retired with a 6 to be 30 runs from 16 balls. The Bush Choox had 1/44 on the board at quarter time but found themselves in big trouble, losing 4 wickets in the second quarter to limp to 5/63 at the change of ends.
The Choox only added 23 runs in the third quarter and lost two wickets in an over to the league’s form bowler Ben Christie. In the final lot of 5 overs 42 runs went onto the total with the help of Cody Rodgers steady hand of 25 from 32. Choox ended with 8/128 at a run rate of 6.40 per over. Christie took 3 for 10 for Madness and Morrow was miserly with 1/2 from 2 overs. Madness opened the inning with Godrich who smashed everybody on his way to a 26 retired from just 13 with only one dot ball line his batting chart. Madness were looking good with 0/47 after the power play but the Choox hit back taking 3 for 28 in the second quarter. Tim Fox got the innings going again with a quick-fire 28 runs from 15 balls and with 5/118 at 3/4 time they were in need of just 11 runs off the final 30 balls. The winning runs came on the first ball of the 17th over when Foxy hit Scooter for 6 runs, the Mad Men ended up with 7/164 and a 36 run victory. Cummo took two wickets for the Bush Choox and Graham Fox took two catches.
Game 47: Thursday’s clash was a battle for 6th position on the Kitchen Formations Ladder. The Master Batters and Sons of Pitches were locked together in 6th position and Master Batters batted first. With the help of 12 sundries and 4 drop catches they made their way to 0/31 from the power play. In the 7th over another drop catch went into the nine run net to help boost the score. Once Fish had retired on 32 from 36 balls the run rate got a boost from Jarvo and Joycey with Atto scoring 28 from 19 and Joycey dominating the bowling with 3 sixes to make 25 from 9. Captain Joel and Thomo knocked the ball around for another 30 and the total after 20 overs had climbed to 1/156.
The Sons of Pitches were chasing 157 at a run rate of 7.51 for the win but the runs were not coming quickly. After the power play the run rate was 5.20 and the score was 1/26. The second quarter saw 45 runs scored for the loss of just one wicket thanks to Jordy's 30 from 20 balls. At half time the score was 2/71 and the requirement was 86 from 60. The third quarter ticked along but not anything near the required rate and at 3/4 time the score was 3/109. For the final 30 balls SOP needed 48 runs. The 16th over bowled by Nick Radice saw 4 dot balls and just 3 runs added. Needing 45 from the last 24 balls was too much for SOP and they fell 28 runs short in a disappointing chase. Nick McGovern was man of the match taking 3 for 9 for MB.
Game 48: Friday night’s clash was the Big Show - needing a win to keep any chance of playing finals – against Finbats. Big Show batted first and Toggo got things moving with two 4s and three 6s to retire on 29 from 10 balls. The quarter time total was 0/56. Mauris retired on 25 from 25 and Stewie also retired in an un-Stewie like inning of 27 from 20 balls. At half time the total was 0/98 and Big Show were flying. Goddard 23 runs and Coxey's 28 from 14 balls pushed the run total up to 3/189 after the 20th overs. Gibbon the best of the Finbats bowlers with 2/5. The Finbats turned the batting order upside down, and it worked – they were 2/52 and on target. The second lot of 5 overs were identical with 2/51 scored and at half time there total was 4/102. Morgs retired in 12 balls and Gibbon smashed 22 before being bowled by God.
The third quarter was a bit of a disaster with 3 wickets falling for 29 runs, the Finnies left with 59 runs from 30 balls. Morgs came back into bat and joined Harps who was hitting the ball really well. In a final wicket stand that needed 47 from the final 21 balls the Finbats fell just 5 runs short with 3 balls left in the match when Morgs was run out. Morgs was awarded man of the match with 51 runs from just 24 balls and Harps ended on 32 n/o from 22. Matt Goddard was equal man of the match with 3/9 from 2 overs. One of the games of the season played on a perfect afternoon at the Western Oval.
