FIELDING OF DREAMS

HAWK’S LAST-GASP HEROICS

DRYSDALE star Bailey Sykes’ golden arm has delivered again as the youngster became the hero on Saturday, executing a stunning run-out to secure a place in the BPCA A2 grand final in a remarkable tie.

With scores level, Sykes (pictured) flew in from cover and delivered an underarm at full stretch to hit the stumps and found Winchelsea tailender Dillon Campbell short of his ground.

The wicket left Winchelsea all out on 180, tied with Drysdale, with the Hawks sent through to Saturday’s grand final given they finished higher on the ladder.

Campbell (4) and Matthew Partridge (9 not out) almost pulled off a miraculous win for the Blues, putting on 10 together before the run-out.

Sykes has been a star performer with the ball this season, taking 32 wickets with his left-arm spin, more than any other BPCA bowler.

After Drysdale bowler Peter Davidson, who collected 3-18 in a nerveless display, bowled a wide to tie the scores, skipper Nick Hallam brought the field in to create the magical moment.

After Sykes hit the stumps, Hawks fans swarmed the field in celebration.

“I actually thought for some strange reason they would take a short single, so I brought everybody in around the bat and it ended up happening so we were on the right end of it,” Hallam said.

“We do a fair bit of work on (fielding). Being young and enthusiastic, (Sykes) is always out there doing that sort of stuff.

“It is definitely not something that was a fluke. It’s good reward for someone who puts in a lot of work.

“I was actually thinking, ‘just throw it into the keeper’s gloves and make it safe’, because (Campbell) was out by a fair way in the end.”

Hallam said despite the game going down to the wire, he was always confident his team would keep its cool. “It was a pretty special sort of day, you don’t play in too many games of cricket like that,” he said.

Drysdale will face Armstrong Creek in the A2 decider on Saturday.

I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING, ‘JUST THROW IT INTO THE KEEPER’S GLOVES AND MAKE IT SAFE’.

DRYSDALE CAPTAIN NICK HALLAM