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.
GAME 54: Tuesday's result was simple for the four time premiers Finbats, win against the Bashers or miss the finals. The Bashers batted first and losing wickets in the first 2 overs was not a good start to their last game of the season. The Score was 2/32 after the power play and then Rumesh put some respectability into the scorecard when he retired on 29 from 13 balls with two 6s and three 4s. The half time total was 4/73 with one retiree.
Four wickets fell and only 22 runs were added in the third term as the total looked sick at ¾ time with 8/95 on the board. The innings only lasted another two and a half overs with Rumesh returning to hit a 6 and be the last man out with 36 from 16 balls. The Bashers were all out for 113 half way through the 18th. Finbat Nobbsy took 2/1 in just 1 over, Gareth 2/11 the only other multiple wicket taker as 8 different Finbats took wickets. Seven of the wickets to fall were bowled and two were caught and bowled. Needing just 5.66 runs per over the Finbats strode to the crease to start the run chase with their Captain Hawk facing the first ball. By the second he was out and the Bashers were off to a great start. At quarter time the scores were locked together at 2/34 with Holmsey just starting to wind up with a retired 28 from 17 balls.
Gareth was struggle with his first 10 halls but then belted 6, 4, 4, 6 and retired with 28 from 13 balls at a strike rate of 216. The second term sealed the deal with 66 runs coming from the 30 balls and with 2/98 at half time the Bats needed just 16 runs with 60 deliveries left. The winning runs came in the 13th over as they put on another 52 runs in the term thanks to Blacky's 25 from 13 balls and Nobbsy taking 16 balls to reach a retired 25.
In the final term the total reached 4/208 and the Finbats recored a 95 run victory. Old Col finished the season off well with 1/12 and Raj took 1/16 in a respectable bowling display. So the Finbats have moved back into the top 4 and pushed the Master Batters out of the finals
GAME 55: Wednesday night saw Madness bat first against the Willow Warriors in a game all about pride with both teams firmly into the finals next week. Whack… the Mad Men went mad with Lukey (Gods) belting his first ball into the 9 run net and then went on to retire with 32 runs from 9 balls in one of the innings of the season. The quarter time power play netted 0/56 as Callum was not to be out done making 26 in 19 balls with a 6 over cover whilst using a borrowed bat. Foxy came and went quickly with a six and four 4s to retire with 27 from 9 balls and the half time total was 1/122 the highest of the league this season.
Breac fell one short of retirement with 24 in 18 balls, Bezza retired with 25 from 19 and the Mad Men had 4/159 on the 3/4 time scoreboard. Lincoln Mac was bowled on his first ball which is a life line and went on to retire with 28 from just 17 balls and the Madness outfit had put together 4/201. Warrior TomMac took 2/9 in a good display of bowling, Forey 2/16 and the Cam Bean 2/18 the other multiple wicket takers. The Garstyless Warriors needed to score at 10.06 runs per over but were 13 runs behind the run rate after the power play with 2/38. Another 3 wickets fell in the second quarter the Warriors were in huge trouble now 23 behind the run rate at 5/78.
Three more wickets were lost in the third tem and the Warriors were now 8/110 at 3/4 time in need of 92 runs from the final 30 balls. The game was over just 10 balls later and the Warriors had been rolled for 123, not a good warm up to the finals by the reigning premiers. Menni took 3/13 and Luke had a great game double with 3/15. All of the Mad Men bowled and fielded well and would be confident going into the finals next week.
GAME 56: The final game of the season saw Sons of Pitches batting first against premiership favorites the Bush Choox. Bush Choox captain Sebby opened bowling and SOP were 0/17 after one over with Captain Nolan belting a drive down the field and into the 9 run net. By the end of the second over the score was 2/19 and Nolan was back in the pavilion for 11. The second over was bowled by Cody, taking a wicket with his first ball to complete a hat-trick having taking two wickets with his last two balls in last week's game. Kurt Thompson in his last game for SOP held up an end before being run out for 23 and SOP were 2/35 at quarter time. They scored 42 runs in the second term to be 3/77 at half time.
The 3rd quarter was a disaster with 4 wickets falling for just 25 runs and the score card was looking empty. SOP were 7/106 after 15 overs (3/4 time) and all out in the 17 with Muzza and Jacko wiping out the tail. Cody 2/2 of 1 over, Jackson 2/10, Bevo 1/7 and Muzza 1/10 plus 3 catches the destroyers for the boys from Fowl House Corner. The Choox welcomed back Cocko for his first outing of the season and he opened batting. Muzza belted a 6 on his last ball to retire on 30 from 18 balls as the Choox has 3/76 on the board at half time. Reece got amongst the runs after a bit of a lean patch with 25 retired off 19 balls and the Choox hit the winning runs in the 14th over. Sebby made a quickfire 23 in 14 balls before being caught and Big Jake went not out 22 in 17. The Choox made 6/163 for a 56 run victory. Alan 2/12 and Dan 2/14 the main wicket takes for SOP. Chicken Glen returned career best figures of 0/11 keeping things tidy. The Choox cemented the minor premiership but can they break the pattern of losing the last 4 grand finals in a row?