Blues lose in dramatic tie

DRYSDALE 7-180 WINCHELSEA 180

WINCHELSEA fell agonisingly short of appearing in successive BPCA A2 grand finals after with a heartbreaking tie against Drysdale, propelling the Hawks into the big game at Collendina courtesy of their higher position on the ladder.

Drysdale batted first, with its innings built around partnerships that continually frustrated the Winchelsea bowlers.

Charlie Clode and Jason Malcolm added 45 for the first wicket before Matt Nelson penetrated Malcolm’s defence for 18.

Clode and skipper Nick Hallam then took the score to 73 before Nelson repeated the dose on Hallam, who was dismissed for 14.

The opener carried on to complete a half-century before becoming the first of four wickets for Matthew Partridge, with his score on 57.

Shane Cutajar fell for 34, but the tail rallied with Ben Spencer making a quick 24 and Lachie Wilson an unbeaten 11 to take the Hawks to 7-180 from their 40 overs.

Partridge finished with 4-35 and Nelson 2-28 to be the best of the Blues bowlers.

Winchelsea started its chase knowing it would need its highest score of the season to win.

A good start was vital and Ryen Smith provided it, taking the fight up to Will Ritchie, hitting him out of the attack in making 33 from 26 balls.

Angus Leigh provided the anchor, adding 48 with skipper

Adam Korth, who fell for a valuable 29. But disaster struck for the Blues as big-hitting Jamie Doyle went first ball and Leigh followed soon after for 40, leaving them precariously placed at 5-121.

Nelson produced a handy 26 as the tail cobbled together a rearguard action to try to pull off an unlikely win.

When the final over started, the Blues were nine down needing two runs to win and a wide was called to tie the scores.

But Dillon Campbell was caught short of his ground in pursuit of the winning run and the innings finished at 180, ensuring Drysdale a grand final position.

Peter Davidson bowled superbly in the latter stages to take 3-18 and Spencer finished with 2-26.