LAST BALL STUNNER

A BOUNDARY off the last ball of the innings gave St Peter’s a thrilling win over Highton on Saturday.

Natta Blyth scored a single off the last ball of the second last over to retain the strike, with tailender Josh Widdison at the other end.

Needing five to win with six balls to go, Blyth hit a two and then a single to reduce the run chase to two off four. But Widdison was caught on the toe by death bowler Luke Daffy to bring Jack Jenkins to the crease.

Jenkins was then run out trying to get Blyth back on strike, leaving St Peter’s needing two of two.

But, after failing to score on the second last ball, the confident Blyth walked down the pitch to take the last ball on the full, hitting it to the fence to win the game.

“He came in at six yesterday and we still needed 70-odd runs,” captain Stephen Illingworth said.

“He wanted the moment. He wanted to be in charge of what was going on out there.

“I don’t know how many other better moments he’s had in his career, but he was pretty pumped.”

Both sides held match-winning positions through the day, particularly after the Heat reduced St Peter’s to 2-0 after posting 9-179 off its 50 overs.

But Samuel Plummer and Illingworth went about compiling a defining partnership, progressing to 70 after 25 overs.

Illingworth then departed for 33, before Plummer went on with his knock, putting together a hardfought 79 to leave St Peter’s needing 25 off 30.

Earlier, Daffy compiled 44 before being run out in one of the turning points of the match, before Hayden Murrell hit 31 not out.