Western Park continues T20 dominance
A top order wobble threatened to derail Western Park’s hopes of claiming another T20 premiership, but a series of gritty 30s from Sam Russell and Joel Batson rescued the innings.
A five-wicket haul to Fletcher Kennedy killed off any hopes Neerim District had of claiming an upset win.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, Western Park began confidently with Sanjaya Gangodawila punching an off-drive to the boundary off the very first ball of the innings, but he soon had his stumps upset by Toby Bayne and Sam Batson and Tyler McMillan both departed without scoring to leave the scoreboard reading a dicey 3-6.
However, Luke Gilbert and Sam Russell transformed the game with a 38-run fifth wicket stand that lifted the run-rate – and the encouragement of the Western Park faithful – and Joel Batson was able to build on this momentum as the innings neared its conclusion.
Well-placed nudges and glides that brought about regular singles and twos boosted the total late, and despite the humidity and heat affecting the batsmen, after 20 overs Western Park finished at 6-129.
Ben Lockett was the pick of the bowlers with a haul of 3-25, while Bayne delivered a parsimonious opening spell of 1-17 from his four overs.
In reply Jack Ward and Nathan Bayne added 24 within the first three overs, with their aggressive intent putting the Parkers on the back-foot,
But the loss of three wickets in five balls soon halted the Neerim momentum – Sam Russell snicking off Bayne and Bailey George in successive deliveries, and Joel Batson dismissing Jack Ward.
With the wind out of their sails the Stags slowed to a crawl, with Russell (3-23 off four) and Batson (1-10 from four) making life difficult for the middle order.
Continued p 53.