Ron Slattery 20/20 Shield Vs Bendigo
29/12/2009
Ron Slattery Twenty-20 Memorial Shield Giraffe Report - Tuesday 29th December
The Ron Slattery Memorial Cup match version 6.0 was slated in for Tuesday December 29th with Sandhurst looking to square the overall ledger at three a piece. Sandhurst were still able to field a strong side despite missing a handful of First XI regulars including skipper Brenton Jones, Quinton Bentley, Anthony West, Joel Schneider, Mark Keck and Simon Turnbull as well as first choice scorer Steve Prowse who was restricted to the role of spectator in his wheelchair.
Nick Scullie assumed the captaincy of the side and won the toss and felt batting in the consistency of the artificial light would be easier than the twilight and contrast of fading light and shadow endured whilst batting first. In his first hit out for the club this season Scott Harper was handed the new ball, and started promisingly, but it was Tim Robertson who claimed the wicket of Seymour caught behind with his fifth ball of the match.
Bendigo were unable to score as freely as they would have liked and looking to force the issue, opener Glenn Franzi took off on a suicidal single to Tom Wilson in the covers and was found well short – Bendigo 2 for 22 in the fifth over. Justin Hancock had proven to be a wicket taker this season and it didn’t take him long to find himself disturbing the opposing batsman’s furniture, Skipper Hayden Polglaise the victim this time, bowled for six in Hancock’s first over. Scott Harper then joined in the party claiming his first wicket, Tom Wilson again proving his value in the field to snaffle the catch. Bendigo was in strife at 4 for 34 in the seventh over.
Justin Hancocks aggressive line and length again reaped rewards in his third over picking up Ryan Gundry bowled as Bendigo stumbled to 5/46 at the half way mark of their innings. A promising 31 run stand for the sixth wicket was ended by Tim Robertson in his fourth and final over sparking a collapse that would drastically restrict the remaining overs of Bendigo’s innings.
Alex Trump and Matt Pask who had been handed the difficult task of bowling the death overs split the remaining wickets, Tim Robertson held onto a sky ball at the edge of the 30 metre circle to remove Mcarthur for 17, Travis Crouch appeared to float across the turf to get his hands under a splendid catch from the bowling of Trump to remove Winzar and Crouch was again in the action to dismiss Steve Graham and leave Bendigo 9 down. A run out from the final ball of the innings left Bendigo with just 95 runs on the board from their 20 overs.
It was a first class effort from all the bowlers with Tim Robertson 2/12 (4 overs), Justin Hancock 2/18 (4 overs) and Matt Pask 2/6 (2 overs) the multiple wicket takers. The target was not expected to be an issue for the Dragons, but a similar chase two years early nearly ended in disaster with Sandhurst sneaking home by two wickets chasing just 82 for victory on that night.
Brett Polson and Travis Crouch opened up for Sandhurst and after settling in the first over, took a dozen from just the second over courtesy of two fours from Brett Polson. The experienced duo appeared to have the situation well in hand from early on and took minimal risks in maintaining a run rate in excess of that required cruising beyond 50 in the eighth over on the back of Brett Polson’s 36 from 28 balls (four 4’s) before he was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Brett Andrews.
Travis Crouch continued on his merry way, compiling 30 from 39 balls including two fours before he was dismissed with victory just 11 runs away. Nick Scullie then freed the shoulders in the fifteenth over to finish four, four and a booming six over mid wicket with scores level to hand Sandhurst a victory as convincing as has been seen in these contests at 2/101 – Nick Scullie finishing 29 unbeaten from 25 balls with three fours and a six. Sandhurst had accomplished the mission, squaring the Ron Slattery Memorial Trophy at three all and maintaining the momentum that had been obtained in 2 wins and a draw from the three home and away matches leading into Christmas.
Brett Polson was the stand-out player of the contest to earn his third Man of the Match for the Dragons from just one completed first XI contest, a MCC XXIX’s contest and the Ron Slattery Memorial shield match.
In the curtain raiser played out between Sandhurst-Weeroona and Bendigo-Girton, the building crowd was treated to a grandstand finish with Sandhurst on the back of Elias Bowe’s 3 for 11 from 4 overs restricting Bendigo-Girton to 7/94 from 20 overs. David Blume who already had twice claimed man of the match honours in this annual contest appeared to be steering Sandhurst Weeroona to a comfortable win when a late order collapse left the game up for grabs.
The loss of Blume for 45 left Sandhurst 7 for 84 still needing 11 to win with four overs remaining. The cool heads of Tim Mcglone (4no) and Ash Patterson (1no) got the job done for the Dragons from the first ball of the final over.
David Blume claimed his third successive Man of the Match award in the contest for 45.
Both games were played in front of big crowds and were thoroughly enjoyed by all the players who participated. Our thanks is extended to umpires Dale Oddy, Larry Wust and Frank Nolan for officiating the two games, to the Slattery Family for their support of the match and concept, to the local media for their coverage of the matches (even if it is inferior to the Giraffe Report), to Curator Jack Connelly for producing such a fantastic wicket for the contests, to the players who gave up their time and or holidays to compete and to the club officials, supporters and players of both sides who organised and made sure the event ran as smoothly as it did.
Congratulations to all involved at both clubs Sandhurst and Bendigo – the innovators of 20-20 in Bendigo and long may the annual contest between the clubs and schools continue. No doubt both clubs will be looking to take the lead in the overall standing in next season’s fixture.
- The Giraffe
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