With the BDCA this season introducing a separate Twenty 20 competition, the League’s pioneer clubs who introduced the concept in 2004 played the 5th annual contest at the QEO. Sandhurst were seeking a hat trick of wins in the contest having won the last two matches after Bendigo won the first two. Sandhurst fielded a relatively strong side given the fixture was played during the Christmas / new year holiday period minus some batsmen including Mark Holland, Joel Schneider and the in form Brenton Jones. In a disappointing late development there was some confusion over the ground rules of the contest meaning both sides were not able to make an extra player each part of this great concept.
Bendigo won the toss and batted first in perfect conditions and made a solid start finding it difficult to get Tim Robertson and Andy Sheehan away. With plenty of bowling options up their sleeve Kecky decided to bowl Tim Rob and Andy straight out and it was Tim who was rewarded with the first two wickets both caught inside the 30 metre circle by Westy to reduce Bendigo to 2 for 39 from 8 overs with Tim Rob finishing with 2 for 14 from 4 overs.
Craig Burn then followed up and removed the dangerous Glenn Franzi bowled for 27, and when Quinton Bentley had Mark Ryan caught in the deep by Ben Leed, followed just three balls later by the dismissal of Sam Brewin for 0 Sandhurst had Bendigo in check at 5 for 78 after 13. Michael Winzar was proving a thorn in Sandhurst’s side having been elevated up the order to number 5 having come in at 3 for 48 in the 10th over Winzar added 35 from 28 balls to be the final man dismissed in the final over leaving Bendigo with a competitive 7 for 131 from 20 overs. Kecky had entrusted the young guns Leed and Gibson to bowl at the death and the pair didn’t disappoint with Leed finishing with 2/21 from 3 overs and Gibson 0/21 from 3 overs bowling in the toughest of circumstances.
Sandhurst’s bowlers were disciplined in the fact they conceded just 3 wides and no no-balls in their bowling effort, however could have been cleaner and more desperate in the field as the side gave up around a dozen runs in the field through misfields-fields and over throws and failed to effect any run outs in the Bendigo innings.
With a strong batting line up Sandhurst entered their innings with a degree of confidence. Kecky opening the innings didn’t help the situation when he was caught having skied a ball in just the second over to have Sandhurst 1 for 6. Matt Pask with a good track record in these games was elevated to number 3 and set about taking advantage of the fielding restrictions. West and Pask added 34 for the second wicket off just 30 balls before West was caught behind for 14.
This bought Nick Scullie to the crease and after a positive start glancing a 3 from his first ball Was ran out attempting a quick single in what was a big blow to the Dragons chances. Tim Rob then joined Pasky at the crease and the pair batted sensibly in tracking down the required runs adding 60 for the 4th wicket before Pask become the 2nd un out victim of the innings for a classy 46 from 47 balls which included 5 boundaries and the matches only six straight down the ground towards the Barnard Street end. There was still work to be done with Bendigo’s 11 wides and 1 no ball added bonuses for the Dragons but appeared crisper in the field and retained a tighter line with Michael Winzar backing up a batting display with 1 for 18 from overs.
Sandhurst were still left with work to do with 32 required from 24 balls no easy task given that the experienced Mark Ryan and Tim Edwards to bowl the games final overs. The pressure again told as Bendigo’s fielding again a yielded reward as Tim Rob was run out just 1 run later for 23 to reduce Sandhurst to 5 for 104 with two new batsmen at the crease. The task proved too much as Bendigo’s tight bowling and sharpness in the field reduced Sandhurst to just 4 for 16 from the final 4 overs and 15 runs short of Bendigo’s total.
The win gives Bendigo a 3-2 head to head advantage in the contests and Michael Winzar who was a clear choice for Bendigo’s Man of the Match whilst the two stand outs for Sandhurst were Tim Robertson 2 for 14 and 23 and Man of the Match Matt Pask for top scoring for the match with 46. The match will return next season with Sandhurst looking to gain revenge for a missed opportunity. In the early game Bendigo-Girton 6 for 129 narrowly defeating Sandhurst Weeroona 5 for 119. David Blume claimed his second consecutive Man of the Match awards in these contests with a top score of 52.