Big Bash finals begin as final four are decided

By Mike Newman
Updated February 26 2019 - 7:31pm, first published 1:08pm
After 56 games, four teams have packed up the gear and called it a season while the four remaining teams fight it out in finals.
After 56 games, four teams have packed up the gear and called it a season while the four remaining teams fight it out in finals.

GAME 53: On Monday afternoon The Master Batters took on the Big Show. Big Show sent Joel's boys into bat first and Jarvo got them started with a steady 26 from 25 balls. Barnsey put a ball into the 9 run net in the 4th over to push the run rate up and MB had 1/33 at 1/4 time. Barnsey was out for 29 just 1 run short of his 9th not out for the season. The score was meandering along at 2/72 at half time and then the leagues premier batsman Joycey came to the crease for 9 balls and belted 28 not out to pass 300 runs for the season in just 10 games. The run rate pushed up over 8 by 3/4 time with 3/122 and the rest of the batsmen put together 32 runs in the final term to finish with 6/154 from their 20 overs. Pizey was hot for the Big Show with 2/6 from 2 overs, Gods and Brooksey both took 1/10 each. Needing 7.66 runs per over the Big Show went to the crease to destroy the Master Batters dream of playing finals in just their 2nd season. Big Show opened up with Shultzy who took 12 balls to reach his season high score retiring with  27 runs which included three 6s. BS had 0/42 from the power play and right on target for victory. Harro also opened but was not in as much of a hurry taking 32 balls before being caught on 24. In the second quarter two wickets fell for 35 runs and the score was 2/77 having scored exactly half the runs required in the first 10 overs. Pizey helped the run rate elevate with 29 from 15 balls. Scoring 48 runs from 30 balls in the 3rd term saw the Big Show go well ahead of the run rate at 3/4 time with 3/124. Needing just 31 runs from 30 balls in the final term, Bakes retired with 25 from 20 and the requirement was then 11 runs from 12 balls. Six runs came from the 19th over and then Master Batters Skipper Joel the Blind Man took the ball for the final over. With a wicket from the 2nd ball and a run out on the final ball the Master Batter won by just 1 run. Joel ended with man of the match figures of 2/11, Finchy 1/8 and Evo 1/12 both valuable. Master Batters moved into 4th position and into the finals.