Trundle Ducks have managed another trophy in the Forbes Services Club local competition, this time taking out B Grade after beating VC Reid by 5 wickets on Saturday. They only just did it though, managing to pass VC Reid's total of 52 literally a minute before the heavens opened.
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VC Reid batted first and were in trouble early, with the return of opening bowler Brad Watt (4-14 off 8 overs) destroying the VC Reid upper order. Watts spell gained him the Man of the Match honours as he took VC Reid's upper order of representative batsmen. After seeing off the first 2 overs Watt's accurate bowling saw Skinner (9), Webb (3) and Simmonds (3) all in the sheds after 7 overs, VC staggering at 3-21. Goodsell (3-20 off 8) chimed in with 2 more representative players in Reid (1) and Cole (6), VC Reid 5-24, and after Watt took the talented youngster Hodges (2) the game was there for the taking, VC Reid 6 for 34.
Trundle's change bowlers co-captains Wright (2-12 off 4) and Adam hall (1-3 off 3), themselves a handy combination cleaned yup the VC Reid tail, with only D Hazel (10) providing any resistance, with a swinging innings at the death. VC Reid all out for 52 after 23 overs.
The clouds began to circle and Trundle needed to be in front of VC Reid at the 12 over mark in order for the game to be alive and maintain that should it rain. Although they started quickly enough with the hard hitting Hall keeping an eye on the weather, well they lost Wright (1) and Goodsell (5) they looked shaky. But Hall had progressed the score to 30 and the run rate was well in front of the VC Reid at the same time. So it looked like the only thing that would stop Trundle was the weather - but then the weather looked suitable for Ducks anyway.
The experienced Hall fell for 23 with the score at 32 and VC Reid felt they may have been a chance of a win or at least hold out until the rain. However some quick running between the wickets by Moss (13) got Trundle past the point of having to watch the run rate, it was only the clouds they needed to watch....and the ball. Trundle lost Moss and then Jones (2) but Brad Watt (8 no) again helped his team pass the VC Reid score as the drops began to fall.
Trundle Ducks premiers of B Grade and already talking of a better effort next year to match their A Grade premiership team of last season. For VC Reid a disappointing end to the season. They were far and away the 2nd best team in the competition until Christmas, however they lost their mojo over the festive season and really need some decent scores to be able to defend if they are to challenge for an A Grade title as they did a couple of years ago
A Grade Grand Final - Home Timber and Hardware vs Golfie Hotel Tigers at South Circle Oval
Home Timber and Hardware came into the game as hands down favourites and went into bat first. However they lost the reliable Leadbitter in the 3rd over for 0 and the Tigers were making some noise. However from there it was all HTH as the Tigers bowlers continued to bowl to short, allowing the HTH batsmen to swing with gusto or to cut and pull at ease.
Damien Kennedy surprisingly took a back seat as Kurt Davies (34) lashed the Tigers bowling to all parts of the ground, only running for 4 scoring shots in his total. At the departure of Davies the Tigers may have felt like they could get back in the game, but HTH was scoring at a massive 7.5 runs per over, but there was time get back in the game. However Jamie Hoswell (54) picked up where Davies left off And at drinks HTH was 123 after 20 overs. The introduction of Tigers captain Sheritt slowed the run rate below 6, briefly. Kennedy passed his 50 with ease, only giving a couple of sharp chances early, which may have changed the game if taken, but he was a rock for HTH to launch a late charge. And that's just what they did. Some hard hitting from Clint Hurford and some lower order saw HTH reach 240 with an over left before the rain stopped the game.
A full replay is scheduled for 30th March. HTH have shown Tigers what they are capable of, however the Tigers should have learnt a lot from the wash out and will no doubt change their tact with the golden opportunity of a second chance.
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