Margaret River Big Bash Cricket is back for its 12th season and after two rounds, promises to be full of action and excitement once again. Eight teams compete on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights on the Western Oval in the Gloucester Park Precinct. Those wanting to join in can make contact with the league through their Facebook page.
GAME 5
To kick off week two of competition the Finbats won the toss and elected to bat first against the second season Master Batters. After a slow start with only 10 runs coming from the first 3 overs the opening combination of Tractor (25* from 19 balls) and Paps (26* from 21 balls) really upped the anti to kick the innings into gear. With 0 for 34 on the board after the first 5 over power play the score escalated to 0/94 by the half time 10 over mark. The-Science-Guru Gibbo took to the M/B bowlers by belting two 6s and two 4s on his way to retiring on 29 from just 12 balls with a strike rate of 241.
Wicket keeping maestro Joycey was on song behind the stumps with a catch and the lightning fast stumping of Blackie. Evo and Foz were tidy with the ball for the Master Batters taking 2/13 each but Atto was the pick of the bowlers having just 6 runs taken from his 2 overs. The In the end the Finnies put up a competitive total of 5/167. The Master Batters needed to score at 8.36 runs per over to start with back to back wins.
The first wicket fell on the first ball of the second over but Joycey kept the innings on track with 29 from 17 balls and at 1/37 after the power play the inning was on track. Finchy played a steady hand with 21 from 26 balls before Blacky smashed his stumps down with an inswinger. With 3/64 on the board at half time M/B were now 20 runs behind the run rate and in trouble of falling short of the Finnies target. Barnzey put together a 20 from 20 innings but he had no support from the lower batting order and at 3/4 time were now 30 runs off the pace at 5 wickets down for 98 runs.
Only 19 runs came in the last 5 wickets and the remaining 5 wickets fell and the Finbats picked up their first win of the season by 50 runs. Nobsy's 2/8, Paps 2/11, Daddy O and Gareth both taking 1/7 kept the Master Batters under control.
GAME 6
Tuesday’s game was between last seasons table topping but finals choking Madness up against 11 years running Wooden Spooners, Bashers.
The Mad-Men went into bat first and the formidable opening combination of God and Callum took the score to 36 mid way through the 4th over before Godrich was caught for 23 off 15 balls Callum followed shortly afterward for 20 from 16. Enter the former Mad Men's captain Gribbo who had not played a game for over 12 months due to a shoulder reco. He took 5 balls to get his eye in and then went on to retire with an unbeaten 25 from 19 balls.
With 2 wickets down for 88 runs on the board at the half time mark, Madness were on target for for a huge total. Pommy Pete also scored 25 retired from 19 balls, Wino Breac made 22 in 18 balls and the total was now 3/128. Last season All-Star Foxy was again in form with 26 retired from 16 balls. The Mad Men ended up with 6/167 from their 20 overs at a rate of 8.70 runs per over. Midsy and Sheithy were both tidy with the ball taking 1/14 each but 3 drop catches and some short bowling allowed Madness to post a hard total to chase.
The Bashers started brilliantly with Ed (25*) and Danny (26*) both retiring from around 20 balls each. The 1/4 time total was 0/41 and half time was 0 for 80 and the cellar-dwellers were right on target for a repeat an upset like last season when they beat Madness. Tristian scored 24 from 30 balls and SOC (Jacob) belted 22 from 14 but in the end they fell 36 runs short. Foxy's 1/8 and Robbo's 2/13 the best for the Mad-Men.
GAME 7
Wednesday’s game would prove to be the game of the week with the Bushchoox taking on the Big Show. The Choox took to the crease first and All-Star Muzza belted 28 retired from just 14 balls. Captain Seb also retired with 25 from 18, then young Cody hit 25 ret' from 18 balls. With a half time total of 1 for 93 the target was gonna be big. Then another All-Star in Reecey O smashed 25 ret' from 15 balls including back to back 6s that ended up across the road.
A 3/4 time score of 3/132 turned into 4/173 after 20 overs and the Big Show had a big job to do. New Big Show Captain Pizey's ended with 1/9 from two overs to do his job in the field. Old mate Wilkie bowled his two overs for just 9 runs keep things tidy proving age does not weary us. Toggs 1/10 and Mr Savage 0/10 were also tidy, while the rest copped a caning. With 174 runs at 8.66 runs per over needed. the Big Show flew out of the blocks 0/48 in the power play.
Toggo's Quinten like body let him down when he was forced to retire with an arm injury on 19. Brooksy retired in 15 balls, Johno made a quick 18 before being caught and the half time total had dropped behind the run rate at 2/78. With quick runs needed, the new Big Show Captain Pizey's came in and retired in just 9 balls with a 6,4,6 helping score 58 runs in the third quarter to be 3/136 at the change of ends.
The youngest player in the league, 14 year old Jack Murray stopped the run chase in the 16th over by taking two wickets for three runs and put the Choox back in the box seat. Reecey O then bowled the 17th taking another wicket to finish with 1/2 from his two overs. Needing 32 from the final 18 balls, Brooksy and Pizey's returned to the crease and with some big hitting went within six runs of victory in a classic run chase that finished on 8/167. Choox Muzza and Reece O were joint man of the match both receiving the special Witchy Liquor wine.
GAME 8
Friday’s game saw the Sons of Pitches up against the Finbats. Sons of Pitches have be decimated by the loss of guns Holmsey and Polly Farmer. Along with another three regulars not available this week was going to be an uphill battle against the four time Premiers.
Sons of Pitches batted first and at 1/24 after the power play, then 3/49 at half time it did not look good. The 3/4 time total was under 5 runs per over at 6/69 and sundries was the only thing on the scorecard into double figures. Not one player had a strike rate over 50 until tailenders Pops 25* and Captain Nolan 15 from 14 helped the score limp to 7/101, Sundries ended up top score with 32. Hazza Man with 2/4 and Foreys 2/6 the main destroyers along with Garsty's 0/3 from 2 overs.
Bobcat chimed in with 2 wickets. Warriors wasted no time chasing down the target with two time MVP Garsty belting 26 ret' from 12 balls. At 1/51 after power play this game was almost dusted. With 3/92 on the board at half time Ozzie 25 ret and Zac 27 ret in 17 balls the requirement was now just 10 runs from the final 60 balls.
The game was won in the 12th over and they went onto make 4/179 giving them a blow out victory of 78 runs. Nolan's 1 for 7 off 2 overs the only one to trouble the batsmen. Pops, Brenno and Seymour all returned 1/15 with the ball but the damage was done with five others all going for more than 14 runs per over each.
The Warriors posted their first points for the season and moved back into the top four on the Big Bash ladder.
