TITANS KNOCK HAWKS OFF PERCH TO GO TOP
ARMSTRONG Creek has burst back to the top of the BPCA A2 ladder, inflicting the first defeat for the season on Drysdale.
Titans captain Daniel McLean chose to bat after winning the toss, but his top order failed to deliver, stumbling to 3-34 as Will Ritchie (2-42) and Dylan Justice (2-47) gave the visiting Hawks the start they were after.
Clay Mulgrew (35) and Shaun Trenorden (27) then settled things for Armstrong Creek with a valuable 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The pair were able to score at a rapid rate to keep their team in line for a big total.
Aaron Morgan continued the trend with a quick-fire 31 before McLean (25 not out) put the icing on a team total of 8-179.
After their heroics last week, David Sykes 1-24 and his son Bailey 1-23 were unable to tear through the line-up, but bowled economically to keep the Titans from getting away.
Drysdale started the chase in its normal cautious fashion, but Jason Robertson induced a false stroke from Shane Cutajar (14) and a tragic mix up saw Hawks skipper Nick Hallam (1) run out soon after.
At 2-27, Drysdale was in trouble and Pete Davidson (13) and Jason Malcolm (45) consolidated the innings but the required run rate pushed out to six an over at the halfway mark. Ben Spencer (16) and Bailey Sykes (27) tried to accelerate the scoring, but when they fell either side of Malcolm, the tailenders were under enormous pressure.
Ben Fary was slightly expensive in his spell of 4-49, but his support crew made scoring difficult enough to ensure the Titans were always going to defend their score.
The Hawks will not be panicking after their first loss of the summer, but some lessons will have been learned.
Armstrong Creek, on the other hand, has now set itself up as the team to beat, with a deep batting lineup and a consistent group of bowlers who will make it difficult for any challengers.