General News
14 December, 2024
TUNED IN FOR T20 FINAL
By GARY WALSH KINGOWER skipper Jay-den Leach, the Upper Loddon Cricket Association’s top-ranked player, has come within a whisker of missing Sunday’s inaugural T20 grand final. Work commitments will prevent him playing in Saturday’s one-day...
By GARY WALSH
KINGOWER skipper Jay-den Leach, the Upper Loddon Cricket Association’s top-ranked player, has come within a whisker of missing Sunday’s inaugural T20 grand final.
Work commitments will prevent him playing in Saturday’s one-day clash with Bridgewater Bulls and there were fears he would miss the final.
However, late on Tuesday he got the good news that he would be available – which is very good news for his team.
Leach tops the league for runs scored and is averaging more than 100 per innings, and he also has taken the most wickets in the competition to date.
Wedderburn will host the final on its turf pitch as the teams battle for the Loddon Herald Cup. The Band were able to choose the venue as they topped the T20 ladder.
Wedderburn will come in well rested, having had two matches abandoned due to wet weather in consecutive weeks – one of them against Kingower – as well as a bye on the day before the final.
Kingower also missed the last two rounds of Upper Loddon matches with the washout against Wedderburn and then a bye, but will face the Bulls on Saturday.
Wedderburn skipper Will Holt said the T20 format introduced this season had “invigorated a bit of enthusiasm around the joint.
“It’s pretty unforgiving. If you lose a few wickets early you don’t really have a second chance.”
Holt said the ground was in excellent nick after the recent rain, and he was hopeful of a good crowd turnout.
Leach said making the first ever T20 final was an exciting moment for his team. He said – ironically given the initial doubt about his availability – that the short 20-over format had made it easier for cricketers to make themselves free for matches.
“It’s hard to adapt to as a player, but everyone needed it, and I am really hoping for it to be back next year.”
Leach made just 12 when Kingower batted, and took one wicket.
The team’s best player on the day was Blake Pickles, who top scored with 24 and took 3-5 off two overs.
The teams have met once this season in a T20 match, with Wedderburn winning convincingly. The Band made 101 from its 20 overs, then bowled out Kingower for only 66, with Steve Giorlando taking a spectacular 5-8 from his four overs.
Sunday’s match will begin at 1.30pm.