The Margaret River Chicken Treat Big Bash has finished its 14 rounds of fixtures and is now in the full swing of the play offs. Four teams packed away their cricket gear for the off season with Big Show, Master Batters, Sons of Pitches and the Bashers all missing the finals. This week the top four continue to see who will be the premiers for Season 2018. All four have previously won premierships and are looking to add their name again on the trophy.
Game 53: Tuesday’s game was between Big Show and Master Batters who were both playing in their last game of the season. Big Show went into bat first and were immediately on the back foot with 3 wickets falling in the power play for just 30 runs. They lost another 3 wickets in the second quarter but added 45 runs to have a half time total of 6/75. If not for Togo's fours 6s and retirement in 9 balls the total would have looked very sick. The third quarter was a real tussle as Pizey steadily built an inning of 27 retired from 21 balls and the total at 3/4 time was 7/111.
With two retired batsmen in the shed Big Show had 30 balls left to post a decent target, Baker’s 20 from 24 and Mr Stewart’s 23 from 22 pushed the total upwards but not quickly. Toggs returned to belt a 6 but then pulled a hamstring and was run out a couple of balls later to end with 33 from 12 balls. Big Show ended the inning with 9/148, 21 runs below their season average. Finchy snagged 2 for 9 and Nick Radice 2/10 to help keep the total down. Master Batters as the newest team in the league needed to score 7.40 runs an over to finish the season on a high. Jolli 27 runs from 16 and Radice in a great game double made 22 from 15 got the ball rolling as MB went into 1/4 time 1/42.
They put on 1/45 in the second quarter mainly due to Joycey 28 runs retired from 14 balls and at half time were cruising. They only added 31 runs in the third quarter leaving themselves 31 runs to get from the final 30 balls. Evo stepped up with 21no from 18 balls and 13 year old Harvey hit the winning runs in the 19th over.
Game 54: The Bashers, taking on 3-peat premiers Finbats, batted first and were very slow out of the blocks with 1/23 after the power play. Old Col has showed some great form in the latter part of the season with another 18 runs today. The second 1/4 saw Sheithy 21 from 14 and Sandeep 26 retired from 23 pushing the half time total to 2/56.
They managed 45 runs in the 3rd quarter with a mini cameo from Rumesh's 13 from 5 balls to be 4/101. The final quarter was a bit of a disaster with 4 wickets falling for just 26 runs and they ended on 8/127. Telstra who has missed the last month of Big Bash took 2/11 and Blackie took 2 wickets to be the main destroyers for the Finbats.
Heading out to the crease the Bats needed 6.36 per over to win. Harps retired on 27 from 18 balls and Blackie’s 23 from 13 got them going with a run rate of 8.0 at quarter time. The second quarter saw 45 runs added with Telstra retiring on 25 from 18 balls. Finnies added 49 in the 3rd quarter with the winning runs coming in the 15th. They scored another 43 in the final quarter and Nobbsy's 28 from 15 a welcome return to form. The Bats ended with 7/177 and a 50 run victory. Both Nico and Sandeep picked up 2 wickets each for the Bashers whose season ended in last place.
Game 55: Thursday's clash had the Warriors needing a win to Madness to gain back second position and the double chance in the finals. Madness batted first and Luke Godrich did his bit with 25 retired from 17 to get them off to a good start with 1/43 at quarter time.
Another 36 runs came in the second quarter to take them to 2/79. The second half belonged to the Warriors as they kept the run rate down with only 50 runs being added in the final 60 balls. The only shining light was Mennie's 25 from 15 , without that it could have been disastrous as they ended with a well below par total of 6/139. Tinny was the star with the ball for the Warriors picking up 4 wickets. Warriors got off to a flyer with the first 3 overs going for 14, 18 and 10 runs thanks to Garsty's four sixes as he retired on 26 from just 7 balls. Zac's stellar season continued as he retired on 27 from 18 and the Warriors at half time were 2/87, well on target to get the double in the finals.
Needing just 53 runs from the final 60 balls with 8 wickets in hand the Warriors made 46 of these runs in the 3rd quarter and left themselves needed just 7 runs from the final 30. Captain Ozzie saw his team through with the winning runs in the 17th over as he retired on 31 from 23. The Warriors went onto a total of 5/167 and a 28 run victory. Mennie and Matty Roberts both took 2/16 for Madness who need to rebuild that winning form for next week.
Game 56: The last game of the season was the Bush Choox up against the Sons of Pitches whose season was set to end win, lose or draw. SOP went to the crease to bat first and with 15 coming from the first over were hopeful of a flyer. It didn't quite work out that way as the runs dried up and the wickets fell. Three wickets fell in the power play to the same shot with Bevo taking 3 catches at mid on. With 3/34 on the board after the power play Polly Farmer steadied things for SOP making 27 from 23 balls to help them reach 3/79 after 10 overs.
Brenno's 25 runs from 18 balls helped to put on 58 runs in the 3rd quarter. Wild Man Jye doubled his season batting aggregate with 25 runs from 25 balls and Pops hit 21 at the end which saw SOP reach 7/172. Cummo's 1/8 and Smithy with 2 wickets the best of the Choox bowlers. Bevo ended up with four catches in the outfield. Bush Choox need to score at 8.61 runs per over to overhaul the SOP total. Without Muzza and Chooky in the line up Andrew Smith playing in just his 6th game of the season stepped up to open and hit three 4s and a 6 on his way to 26 retired from 13 balls. With 1/56 at quarter time and then 1/116 at half time the Choox looked set for a win.
Jake’s 31 from 17 balls and Cam’s 28 from 15 balls put the Choox in the driver’s seat. SOP owned the third quarter as they restricted the runs to just 23 from those 30 balls to make what should now be a close finish. BC were at 2/139 at 3/4 time and in need of 34 runs from the final 30 balls. The 16th over was huge with 16 runs being belted to all parts of the park, the 17th over went for only 5 runs but then the 18th over went for another 12 runs and the deal was done.
Scooter came in and hit 29 from 18 balls as the Choox went on to record a 14 run win with 3/186. Pops 0/6 from 2 overs, Holmesy and Azza's 1/13 each was not enough to get SOP across the line. It was a season that saw much improvement from the Sons of Pitches with new recruits Holmsey and Polly.
Finals Week One: Tuesday four time premiers Finbats take on two time premiers Bush Chooks in the first semi.
These two teams have met each other in the last three grand finals in which Finbats have won them all. Friday Madness meet up with Willow Warriors, both teams trying to add to their single trophy wins. Both games will start at 4.30 pm on the Western Oval.
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Margaret River Mail
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