Extreme heat in mid-December caused a one-month delay for the Goulburn Murray Cricket Twenty20 final, but a blockbuster finish on Thursday, January 15 made the game well worth the wait.
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Defending champion Bamawm-Lockington United had the home ground advantage in the final, welcoming Kyabram Fire Brigade to Bamawm Recreation Reserve for the clash after both teams upset higher-ranked sides in the semi-final round.
As T20s go, the contest proved to be a relatively low-scoring one and, as the bowlers continued to make inroads throughout the game, no one batter could put his stamp on the match.
The host won the toss and captain Regis Chakabva elected to bat first.
However, the Lions’ leader may have been regretting that decision after he scooped the first ball of the innings back to bowler Jackson Barnett, giving the Flames a dream start.
With their internationally-capped leader in the sheds Kyle Humphrys and James Ryan set about rebuilding the innings.
Ryan in particular was busy at the crease, only three boundaries included in his 31 from 26 deliveries.
Humphrys would make 19 and Woody Wilson 11, before Luke Thompson would take control of the latter part of the innings with 29 from 27 deliveries.
His departure at the top of the 17th over caused the Lions' momentum to slow and despite a huge six from Prateer Mehta, the procession of wickets held BLU to only 128 from its 20 overs.
Taylor Beard was a standout for Fire Brigade, taking 4-19, while Cooper and Hunter Fawcett mirrored each other with spells of 2-26.
The modest total set up a thrilling run chase, with both sides fancying their chances heading into the second innings.
BLU had some early joy, removing Shannon Fleming for 9, but a 65-run partnership between Bohden Learmonth and Taylor Beard threatened to take the game away from the Lions.
However, just as the two looked to be in rhythm, Liam Hamilton struck, removing Beard, and Thomas Dicker sent Learmonth to the sheds four balls later, sending Fire Brigade back to square one.
The run rate slowed and the wickets continued to fall, the contest suddenly back on.
As quickly as they got on top the Flames fell behind the required run rate, still needing 18 to win from the final two overs.
The early work made that still a manageable task, one that fell to Miller Griffiths and Rob Salter.
Perhaps hesitant to lose another wicket at a critical juncture, the pair only scurried through for five singles in the penultimate over, leaving a target of 13 to win or 12 to tie from the final six balls.
As can so often be the case in a game so close momentum swung from ball to ball.
Griffiths made Fire Brigade favourite when he sent the first ball of the Liam Hamilton over beyond the rope, the Flames then needing seven.
A dot built pressure, while a single put Salter on strike with six needed.
Hamilton struck a killer blow with ball four, sending the sticks flying and removing Salter, but it was still anyone’s to win after Oliver Hughes scampered through for one, putting Griffiths back on strike with four runs between the sides and one ball remaining.
The option to tie with a four on the table, Griffiths went for it all, taking the aerial route in search of the outright win, but James Ryan would show safe hands on the rope, claiming the catch and sealing the Lions’ win.
Fire Brigade effectively bounced back from the midweek defeat, getting the points against L-G on Saturday, the Flames focus now on returning to the top four for a tilt at the McMahon Shield.
The game
Bamawm-Lockington United 9-128 (James Ryan 31, Luke Thompson 29, Taylor Beard 4-19) d Kyabram Fire Brigade 8-124 (Bohden Learmonth 37, Taylor Beard 26, Liam Hamilton 5-22)