Margaret River Big Bash Cricket, after twelve seasons in the T-20 league the Bashers have finally won games back to back. With 11 wooden spoons in the trophy cabinet, this week they took down the Big Show to record their second win in a row for the season. Eight teams compete on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights on the Western Oval in the Gloucester Park Precinct. The family friendly environment provides a great place to spend the summer evenings amongst other locals from the community, keen to cheer on their friends and workmates in the exciting annual competition. Those wanting to join in the Twenty20 fun can make contact with the league through their Facebook page (search Margaret River Big Bash), where regular game updates and event information is also shared. This week Mon – Bushchoox v Madness Tue – Sons Of Pitches v Master Batters Wed – Big Show v Finbats Fri – Bashers v Willow Warriors Mondays clash saw two long time rivals meet with the Bushchoox batting first up against the Finbats. The Chooks flew out of the coop with 9, 12, 11, 12 runs coming from the first 4 overs and had 0/51 on the board after the 5 over power play. Muzza continued with his phenomenal season to retire in 17 balls with 28 runs. Young gun Cody also retired with 28 from 14 balls and then Captain Sebby belted 28 from 16 to help the Choox cruise to 1/99 at half time. Another 28 retired from Jacko in the 3rd term and the total had rocketed to 1/141 at 9.40 runs per over. The final 30 balls saw another 53 runs added with Scooter retiring on the second last ball of the innings. The Bushchoox had amassed a season-high total of 2 wickets down for 192 runs at 9.70 runs per over. The Finbats were sluggish and had no answers, Tractor bowled tightly only allowing 9 runs from his 2 overs. Nobbsy's 1/13 from 2 overs the only other bowler worth mentioning. The Finnies had a huge task of scoring at nearly 10 runs per over to pull off a victory. With 2/33 at the end of the power play and another 2 wickets falling in the 6th over the top 4 batsmen all went cheaply and the Bats were in huge trouble. Nobbsy saved some face with 25 retired at a run a ball retired but with a total of 4/64 at half time, the Bats had been battered. Needing 131 runs from the final 60 balls, Telstra Shane tried to belt his team back into the game with two 4s and two 6s in a quickfire innings of 21 from 7 balls. Matty Gradson's 30 retired from 18 balls gave the Finbats a reason to make some noise but in the end 7/150 was nowhere near enough. Muzza's 2/5, Jacko's 1/9, Smithy's 1/11 and Sebby's 3 catches behind the stumps cemented a dominating victory for the undefeated Bushchoox. Tuesday was the clash between the Big Show and the Willow Warriors. Big Show won the toss and elected to set a target with a steady opeing power play of 6.66 runs per over to be 1/33 at 1/4 time. They added 48 in the second quarter as Brooksey made a 26 run a ball retirement and Mr Steward at better than a run a ball 25 retired. With the half time total at 1/81 Captain Pizey tried to lift the run rate with a quick 21 from 13 balls along with Johno (16 from 9) who smashed their way to 5/124 at 3/4 time. The Big Show added another 28 in the final 5 overs to be 7/152 at the end, but would it be enough to hold off the reining premiers? Cam Bean was really tidy, conceding just 3 runs from his 2 allotted overs and Garsty the main wicket taker with 2/10. The Warriors need 7.52 runs per over to reach the target and got their regulation flier from Garstone who belted 4 boundaries in 10 balls including two 6s to retire in the second over of the innings. With Garsty's departure the run rate slowed as 0/30 from 2 overs became 2/49 at the end of the power play. Hep put together a steady 27 @ 122 strike rate to help push his team total to 2/92 at the end of the second lot of 5 overs. With 63 runs need from the final 60 balls and 8 wickets in hand the middle order went about their business in a workmanlike fashion and took 41 runs off the target by ¾ time to be 2/131. Zac and Oscar both retired on 25 at around 130 strike rates and the target looked reachable. The winning runs came in the 18th over and the Warriors cruised to a second victory and back into the top 4. Tristan the pick of the Big Show bowlers with 2/12. Wednesday nights match up was between Master Batters and the Bashers. Bashers are coming fresh off their first win of the season and MB looking for win number three. MB batted first and a regulation retirement from Big Bash Top-Gun Joicey in 13 balls had the total at 1/42 after the power play. Blind Man Joel finally made some runs for the season with a 25 retired at a 138 strike rate, Nicko who was robbed of 1 run was made to retire on 24 in just 14 balls and MB had 1/90 on the board at half time and flying towards a huge target. With 21 from 19 balls Story was the last of the run makers and the lower order started to collaps. Just 29 runs would be added in the ¾ quarter and 3 wickets would fall cheaply. With 4/119 on the board and 30 balls left, the Master Batters scraped together 42 runs in the final 5 overs thanks to Joyce adding 17 to his retired score to end up on 42 not out from 20 balls. MBs final total was 8/161. Needing to score at a tick over 8 runs per over the Bashers power play was a bit behind the run rate at 1/34 from the opening 5 overs. The change of ends saw the run rate escalate quickly to 8.60 rpo as 52 more runs were scored but they also lost 4 wickets in the quarter to be 5/86. The third term saw Rumesh (26 from 12 balls) and Mahesh (25 from 12 balls) come together and put the Bashers in a perfect position to steady and set their sights on the target ahead. At ¾ time the Bashers were 5/129 needing 33 runs from 30 balls. Leigh Westcott played the perfect inning in making a retired 25 @ 147 strike rate to win the game in the 19th over and be awarded man of the match. The Bashers made 6/173 and won by 11 runs. Blind Joel's 0/10 and the Old Fish's 0/7 two MB bowlers who kept things tidy. Friday nights game saw Madness bat first against a struggling Sons Of Pitches lineup. With a wicket falling in the first over the spirt of SOP was high. With 23 runs including three 6s and a 4 in the second over the spirit crashed. Then SOP really did have a dip, the bowling and fielding was better. With 2/50 on the board after the power play Breac who started with 16 from his first 3 balls was contained to 9 from his next 15 to retire on 25 from 18 balls. Two wickets fell for 42 in the 2nd quarter for a half time total of 4/92. SOP did well to contain the big hitting Pauly B (26 from 22) and Foxy (18 from 16) to push the run rate under 8.50 rpo. With 80 runs scored in the second half by Madness SOP had kept the pressure right up until Menni played a smash and grad 23 not out from 14 balls right at the end. The Mad Men ended up with 6/172. Big-Dan 1/10, Pops 0/11 and Brenno 0/12 tidy, but there were some blowouts in the bowling column. SOP welcomed back Holmsey and Col Fox into the team as they went about the 8.60 an over to win. With 1/33 at 1/4 time and 3/68 at half time SOP were well behind the target. Holmsey retired in 20 balls, Foxy in 26 balls both on 25 runs. Brenno scored the leagues first Diamond duck for many years and it triggered a run of 7 batsmen in a row failing to score over 7. At 7/102 at 3/4 time this game was beyond SOP, Pops at no 11 scored 20 not out and Holmsey came back in at the end to score 35 from 27 balls. All out for 140 on the final ball gave the Mad Men a 32 run victory. Pubes took 2/7 for Madness and Pauly B created two run outs and took two catches.
Margaret River Big Bash Cricket, after twelve seasons in the T-20 league the Bashers have finally won games back to back.
Margaret River Big Bash Twenty20 competition sponsors Witchy Liquor and Bootleg Brewery.
With 11 wooden spoons in the trophy cabinet, this week they took down the Big Show to record their second win in a row for the season.
Eight teams compete on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights on the Western Oval in the Gloucester Park Precinct.
The family friendly environment provides a great place to spend the summer evenings amongst other locals from the community, keen to cheer on their friends and workmates in the exciting annual competition.
Those wanting to join in the Twenty20 fun can make contact with the league through their Facebook page (search Margaret River Big Bash), where regular game updates and event information is also shared.
Mon – Bushchoox v Madness
Tue – Sons Of Pitches v Master Batters
Wed – Big Show v Finbats
Fri – Bashers v Willow Warriors
Mondays clash saw two long time rivals meet with the Bushchoox batting first up against the Finbats. The Chooks flew out of the coop with 9, 12, 11, 12 runs coming from the first 4 overs and had 0/51 on the board after the 5 over power play. Muzza continued with his phenomenal season to retire in 17 balls with 28 runs. Young gun Cody also retired with 28 from 14 balls and then Captain Sebby belted 28 from 16 to help the Choox cruise to 1/99 at half time. Another 28 retired from Jacko in the 3rd term and the total had rocketed to 1/141 at 9.40 runs per over. The final 30 balls saw another 53 runs added with Scooter retiring on the second last ball of the innings. The Bushchoox had amassed a season-high total of 2 wickets down for 192 runs at 9.70 runs per over. The Finbats were sluggish and had no answers, Tractor bowled tightly only allowing 9 runs from his 2 overs. Nobbsy's 1/13 from 2 overs the only other bowler worth mentioning.
The Finnies had a huge task of scoring at nearly 10 runs per over to pull off a victory. With 2/33 at the end of the power play and another 2 wickets falling in the 6th over the top 4 batsmen all went cheaply and the Bats were in huge trouble. Nobbsy saved some face with 25 retired at a run a ball retired but with a total of 4/64 at half time, the Bats had been battered. Needing 131 runs from the final 60 balls, Telstra Shane tried to belt his team back into the game with two 4s and two 6s in a quickfire innings of 21 from 7 balls. Matty Gradson's 30 retired from 18 balls gave the Finbats a reason to make some noise but in the end 7/150 was nowhere near enough. Muzza's 2/5, Jacko's 1/9, Smithy's 1/11 and Sebby's 3 catches behind the stumps cemented a dominating victory for the undefeated Bushchoox.
Tuesday was the clash between the Big Show and the Willow Warriors. Big Show won the toss and elected to set a target with a steady opeing power play of 6.66 runs per over to be 1/33 at 1/4 time. They added 48 in the second quarter as Brooksey made a 26 run a ball retirement and Mr Steward at better than a run a ball 25 retired. With the half time total at 1/81 Captain Pizey tried to lift the run rate with a quick 21 from 13 balls along with Johno (16 from 9) who smashed their way to 5/124 at 3/4 time.
The Big Show added another 28 in the final 5 overs to be 7/152 at the end, but would it be enough to hold off the reining premiers? Cam Bean was really tidy, conceding just 3 runs from his 2 allotted overs and Garsty the main wicket taker with 2/10. The Warriors need 7.52 runs per over to reach the target and got their regulation flier from Garstone who belted 4 boundaries in 10 balls including two 6s to retire in the second over of the innings. With Garsty's departure the run rate slowed as 0/30 from 2 overs became 2/49 at the end of the power play. Hep put together a steady 27 @ 122 strike rate to help push his team total to 2/92 at the end of the second lot of 5 overs. With 63 runs need from the final 60 balls and 8 wickets in hand the middle order went about their business in a workmanlike fashion and took 41 runs off the target by ¾ time to be 2/131. Zac and Oscar both retired on 25 at around 130 strike rates and the target looked reachable. The winning runs came in the 18th over and the Warriors cruised to a second victory and back into the top 4. Tristan the pick of the Big Show bowlers with 2/12.
Wednesday nights match up was between Master Batters and the Bashers.
Bashers are coming fresh off their first win of the season and MB looking for win number three. MB batted first and a regulation retirement from Big Bash Top-Gun Joicey in 13 balls had the total at 1/42 after the power play. Blind Man Joel finally made some runs for the season with a 25 retired at a 138 strike rate, Nicko who was robbed of 1 run was made to retire on 24 in just 14 balls and MB had 1/90 on the board at half time and flying towards a huge target. With 21 from 19 balls Story was the last of the run makers and the lower order started to collaps.
Just 29 runs would be added in the ¾ quarter and 3 wickets would fall cheaply. With 4/119 on the board and 30 balls left, the Master Batters scraped together 42 runs in the final 5 overs thanks to Joyce adding 17 to his retired score to end up on 42 not out from 20 balls. MBs final total was 8/161. Needing to score at a tick over 8 runs per over the Bashers power play was a bit behind the run rate at 1/34 from the opening 5 overs.
The change of ends saw the run rate escalate quickly to 8.60 rpo as 52 more runs were scored but they also lost 4 wickets in the quarter to be 5/86. The third term saw Rumesh (26 from 12 balls) and Mahesh (25 from 12 balls) come together and put the Bashers in a perfect position to steady and set their sights on the target ahead. At ¾ time the Bashers were 5/129 needing 33 runs from 30 balls. Leigh Westcott played the perfect inning in making a retired 25 @ 147 strike rate to win the game in the 19th over and be awarded man of the match. The Bashers made 6/173 and won by 11 runs. Blind Joel's 0/10 and the Old Fish's 0/7 two MB bowlers who kept things tidy.
Friday nights game saw Madness bat first against a struggling Sons Of Pitches lineup. With a wicket falling in the first over the spirt of SOP was high. With 23 runs including three 6s and a 4 in the second over the spirit crashed.
Then SOP really did have a dip, the bowling and fielding was better. With 2/50 on the board after the power play Breac who started with 16 from his first 3 balls was contained to 9 from his next 15 to retire on 25 from 18 balls.
Two wickets fell for 42 in the 2nd quarter for a half time total of 4/92. SOP did well to contain the big hitting Pauly B (26 from 22) and Foxy (18 from 16) to push the run rate under 8.50 rpo. With 80 runs scored in the second half by Madness SOP had kept the pressure right up until Menni played a smash and grad 23 not out from 14 balls right at the end.
The Mad Men ended up with 6/172. Big-Dan 1/10, Pops 0/11 and Brenno 0/12 tidy, but there were some blowouts in the bowling column. SOP welcomed back Holmsey and Col Fox into the team as they went about the 8.60 an over to win. With 1/33 at 1/4 time and 3/68 at half time SOP were well behind the target.
Holmsey retired in 20 balls, Foxy in 26 balls both on 25 runs. Brenno scored the leagues first Diamond duck for many years and it triggered a run of 7 batsmen in a row failing to score over 7. At 7/102 at 3/4 time this game was beyond SOP, Pops at no 11 scored 20 not out and Holmsey came back in at the end to score 35 from 27 balls. All out for 140 on the final ball gave the Mad Men a 32 run victory. Pubes took 2/7 for Madness and Pauly B created two run outs and took two catches.
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Margaret River Mail
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