Lions bats ensure finals despite Deary’s dashing 82
EAST Belmont is bound for finals after securing a 40-run victory over Highton, thanks in the main to 58 from the recently arrived Shane McNamara and a sparkling undefeated 66 from Matt Lineker.
“Shane did a really good job negotiating the tricky end and scoring heavily when he got to the other end, while ‘Baarsy’ (Andrew Baars) got in straight after Sean (O’Neill) at No 3 and really took the initiative with 35 from 46 balls,” Lions coach Chris Williams said. “He really pounced on the bad balls and allowed Shane to get set.”
Despite the bright start, East’s innings had the potential to implode at 5-134, were it not for Lineker’s enterprising union with keeper Locky Inglis (46).
“They kicked us to a competitive score and then into a winnable score, but Matt’s finishing at the end took it to a highly probable win,” Williams said of Lineker’s 56-ball masterclass.
“He exploited the short side really well and batted in a smart manner.”
Alex Watson was the sole multiple wicket-taker with 3-45.
The Heat’s reply began disastrously, slumping to 2-10, before Chay Deary spearheaded the comeback with a commanding 82, punctuated by 10 fours and a six.
“Chay hit the ball really cleanly and had his 88-run partnership with Alex Watson (24) gone for another half hour or so they could have been in a really strong position to chase it down,” Williams said.
Williams’s (2-48) removal of Watson, at 98, stymied the Highton run scoring and with the resultant steady procession of wickets the chase fell 40 runs short.