Liam Durkin
THE Saputo Sale-Maffra Cricket Association Women’s T20 Grand Final lived up to expectations.
The two best sides in the competition, Longford and Rosedale-Kilmany, battled it out at Stephenson Park on Tuesday night for the silverware.
A pulsating game came down to the last over, and saw the Warriors emerge victorious by six wickets.
The Lizards entered the decider slight favourites, having only dropped one game during the season, as opposed to RK’s three.
However, not much separated the two sides in head-to-head battles during the regular campaign, and this trend continued in the final.
Longford elected to bat first, getting first dibs on their home strip.
The Lizards put up a score of 7/65 off their 20 overs, getting through after an absolutely horrendous start.
Rosedale-Kilmany, more specifically, Regan Leeson, was walking on water early, and took three wickets in the first over of the game.
Leeson decimated Longford, who slumped to the scarcely believable score of 3/0.
Watching the carnage from the other end was Sally Guthrie, who was joined by skipper Nicola Thatcher in just the second over.
Needing a partnership, the pair batted maturely, putting on 52 for the fourth wicket.
Both retired for scores of 26, well and truly getting Longford out of the mire.
Guthrie took the scoreboard out of the equation, making 26 off 28 balls, while Thatcher played a watchful hand of 26 off 52.
Unfortunately, ducks featured either side of this partnership, making for a total of five during the innings.
Kirrily Bruce joined Leeson in the wicket-taking fun, finishing with three and combining with multiple Moe premiership netballer Demi Plunkett for a runout.
Leeson and Bruce were models of accuracy, with all of their wickets being bowled.
Leeson returned extraordinary figures of 3/11 with two maidens, and Bruce 3/14 off four overs.
The Warriors didn’t suffer the same top order collapse the Lizards did, however, the home side was able to apply the brakes and take the chase as deep as possible.
Rosedale-Kilmany had no standouts with the bat, but were helped along by handy contributions chewing away at the total.
Tess Maxfield made 18 not out and Zoe Hustwaye an unbeaten 13, with the latter steering the winning run off the first ball of the last over.
Isabella Spoljaric bowled well for the Lizards, taking 2/15 off four overs.
Leeson was named player of the match.
The premiership team was: Connie Rowley (captain), Kirrily Bruce, Regan Leeson, Olivia Speairs, Tess Maxfield, Zoe Hustwayte, Meg Gordyn, Demi Plunkett, Tegan Slattery.
