Martin’s haul caps a stellar Wests season
CRICKET: Bowled, Daley Martin.
It’s a phrase that caused Southern Districts nightmares on the final day of the TCI Agrade competition as Western Districts secured an unbeaten regular season.
During its first innings total of 61, Martin clean bowled five Souths batsmen, and dismissed a further two on his way to figures of 7-29.
Wests opted to enforce the follow on after establishing a 166-run first innings lead, with Southern Districts needing to see out the final 49 overs of play.
Souths managed to bat out the day, finishing at 6-150 on the back of 71 to opener Aaron Paul.
However it was again Martin that stole the show, as he picked up three wickets to complete a 10-wicket haul, the only player to do so in A-grade this season.
“It’s something a bit different,” Martin said.
“Before that I hadn’t even had five wickets (in an innings). I was hoping to get to that milestone first, and the wickets kept coming so I was lucky enough to get to seven, and then third in the second innings.
“It ended up being quite special in the end.
“There was nothing in particular that I changed, I just played like I have trained for the past few weeks.
“With the finals coming up, I’ve been bowling as much as possible (in the nets), and will hopefully bowl well then as well.”
After being eliminated in the finals last year, Martin said the hunger remains to go all the way.
“We’re feeling pretty good at the moment, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves just yet,” he said.
“There are still two good teams in it, and we don’t want to let our guard down.”
Metropolitan-Easts and Northern Brothers failed to reach a result as both teams were content with playing out the game with the bat.
Diggers were eventually dismissed for 352 as Blake Anderson piled on a captain’s knock of 147.
The Trojans were never in danger in their first innings, with Daniel Pollock’s 54 runs helping them to close out the session at 4-168.
At USQ Oval, University was more than happy to bat out the second day of play in its match with Highfields-Railways.
Starting play at 1-39, the finalists went on to finish with a total of 284, courtesy of 79 from Hemal Shah.
Northern Brothers Diggers will face University this weekend at Heritage Oval in the preliminary final, for the right to play Western Districts in the decider.
Photo: Kevin Farmer