Nail-biters at the Nest as games go down to the wire

On what appeared to be a run-scoring wicket, the Hawks turned up the heat on Dunsborough batsmen, first dismissing Dunsborough recruit Nick Barr with the score on 9. It was disciplined line and length from quick Aaron Thomas that built pressure, completing his 6 over opening spell for a miserly 15 runs. While Dunsborough maintained a steady 3-runs per over run rate, wickets continued to fall with Omodei, Reagan and Edwards all back in the shed by drinks.

After drinks, Small-Boyce and Watts went on the attack and Dunsborough managed to score 65 runs from the next 10 overs but with Watts finally dismissed with the score on 140, Dunsborough crawled to a total of 158 after being all out in the 42nd over. Leigh Westcott rebounded well after his first two overs, taking 3/11 in his final 4 overs and import Rumesh 'The Panda' Silva finished with figures of 2/17 from 9 overs.

After regular contributions in the first 3 rounds of the competition, both Maclean and Joyce were dismissed for single figures, bring together Dittmar and Thomas to resurrect the Hawks innings. They combined well leading into the drinks break, steering the Hawks to a patient 2/54 at the 25 over mark. Dittmar and Thomas brought up their 50-run partnership shortly after drinks before Thomas (20) was caught at mid-off.

Despite this ongoing pressure, young Hawk Kade Dittmar pressed on bring up his 50 in impressive style with a massive down the ground six! Ditmarr (55 runs) was eventually dismissed in the 36th over with the Hawks requiring a further 63 runs for victory. Rumesh Silva then looked to take charge of the run chase with some big hitting before being dismissed for 31 runs in 24 balls. With 6 overs remaining, the Hawks only needed a further 14 runs for victory with two wickets in hand.

This was set to be another thriller between these two sides and with Trent Matthews being the ninth wicket to fall, the Hawks needed just three runs for victory with just the one wicket in hand. Peter Crimp managed to score a single off the final delivery of the express Small-Boyce over, putting him back on strike against Edwards. Unfortunately, Crimp was dismissed with a sharp caught and bowled dismissal with the first delivery of the Edwards over and the Hawks fell tantalisingly short by one single run.

Batting: K. Dittmar 55 runs, R. Silva 31 runs, A. Thomas 20 runs

Bowling: L. Westcott 3/30, R. Silva 2/17, P. Crimp 2/28

Well, what a day of cricket at the Nest! If the A grade result wasn't close enough, nothing could have prepared the crowd with what happened next door at the B grade match between the same opponents. Winning the toss, Hawks skipper Michael Earl had no hesitation in batting first, handing the responsibility to 18 year old vice-captain Jude Shinnick, and 15 year old Harvey Fisher. Direction was simple - Shinnick to play his natural game while Fisher was to be the rock for the team.

Shinnick played a crushing back foot cover drive only to be caught off the bowling of Norrish with the score on 1. The elder statesman of the side joined the young Fisher, and Michael Sorenson looked confident but he too was soon back in the shed for 5, with the Hawks in trouble at 2 for 7. When Alan Seymour was dismissed for a duck, the score was ominous at 3 for 7. Enter another youngster, Charlie Flintoff, (for the record, the combined age of Flintoff and Fisher was still less than half of Sorenson's age!).

Flintoff was the attacker while Fisher kept his rock like composure and these two put on 32 runs, with Flintoff scoring 13 before being dismissed. Danny Weston came in and looked controlled and put on an innings high partnership of 37 runs with Fisher before being bowled for 20.

Fisher was joined by Earl, and played an out of character shot to be bowled for 25 runs. But it must be said, Fisher's innings was a joy to watch. Asked to be the rock of the innings, Fisher lasted into the 35th over and did what he was asked perfectly. Cody Rodgers came and saw one ball, while Earl was dismissed soon after leaving the Hawks at 8 for 79. An unbeaten 8 from Paul Tognolini and 5 from Charlie Hart, had the Hawks making a low 93 runs from 43 overs. So defending 93, wickets were the key; even more so today!

When Sorenson, using all of his experience to hold onto a flying edge off Dunsborough's skipper Mahoney, Blake Gillam had his first wicket with his first legal ball of the innings. Dunsborough were 1 for 1. With Earl holding onto a one handed catch at slip, Gillam had his second and Dunsborough were 2 for 37. Charlie Hart dismissed Matt Lepidi for 5, (3 for 50), and when Seymore and Hart took two more wickets, the visitors were suddenly 5 for 59.

When Byrne was stumped by Fisher off the bowling of Jordan Standbury, (yes Standbury is our opening bowler and yes the batsman was stumped!), Dunsborough were still comfortable at 6 for 72, chasing just another 24 runs for victory.

Then we found Standbury's role! Our death bowler. With Dunsborough needing 4 runs, the Hawks needing 4 wickets, and still 18 overs to bowl, no one predicted what was about to happen. The score was 6 for 90.

Richard Norrish, caught Fisher, bowled Standbury, zero. 7 for 90.

Next ball, Matt Cooper, caught Hart, bowled Standbury, 10. 8 for 90.

Next ball, Chris King, bowled Standbury, 15. Hat trick! The score 9 for 90!

Could the impossible happen? Could Standbury take a double hat trick to win the game for the Hawks in the final moments? Well, history shows that he couldn't and the next over Dunsborough hit the winning runs in what was a 'get out of jail free' card for the travelling side. But it was an unbelievable game to be involved in and shows the spirit the Hawks have. That ever important win is just around the corner and the culture the club has, the other sides should be worried with what we have growing at the Nest.