AFTER defeating Hobart comfortably by six wickets at Risdon Vale, Bothwell I has advanced to the T20 Super Bash Fourth Grade grand final. The Bucks were never in doubt in a good all-round effort. Hobart won the toss and had first hit, making the low score of 68 after they were bowled out off 18.1 overs. All the Bothwell bowlers took wickets, with Brodie White with excellent figures of 3-13 off his four overs. Cody Eyles was also on the money, taking 2-10 (4) in a great spell. Joey Eyles 1-9 (3), Mathew Eyles 1-16 (4) and Brock Nichols 1-19 (3.1) did the damage early in good spells. In reply, Bothwell chased down the runs finishing 4-69 off 17.3 overs. After some great bowling, Cody Eyles top-scored with a fine 32 while Kelvin Eyles made 11 not out.
It was much the same for New Norfolk III in Seventh Grade with the team securing its second grand final berth in as many seasons. Playing at Tynwald Park, the Red Caps won the toss and elected to bat, making the good score of 4-120 from its 20 overs. Opening the batting, captain Nathan Heron with 30 (two fours, one six) and Shayne Upton with 21 (one four, one six) got their team off to a excellent start, putting on a great stand of 62. First drop Steven Sillifiant made 23 (one four, one six) while Brad Kemmler finished out the innings making a handy 20 not out (two sixes). In reply, Derwent with just 10 players was no match, finishing 9-73 off 15.1 overs. This low score was down to some great bowling by Liam Kalbfell, who took 3-11 from four overs, and David Mitchelmore with 2-4 from 1.1 overs. After batting well, Steven Sillifant backed it up with a good spell, taking 2-20 from his four overs, while opener Brad Kemmler capped of a great day with tight figures of 1-13 from his four overs.
New Norfolk I went down to last season’s T20 premiers, Wellington, in the First Grade semi-final. In a high-scoring match New Norfolk had first hit, making 3-137 from its 20 overs. Opener John Ferguson batted well, making 66 not out from 62 balls and hitting a game-high seven fours and one six. Fellow opener Stewart Rice made 27 from 20 deliveries, hitting three nice sixes, for a 41-run stand with Ferguson. Seb Wishart was next best with 16 from 23 balls. Harry Booth remained 9no from just four balls (one six). In reply the Warriors chased down the total with seven balls remaining, finishing 5-139. In a great all-round effort John Ferguson was the best of the Red Caps bowlers, taking 2-26 from his four overs. Ben Smith 1-25 (4), Joe McCulloch 1-37 (4) and Stewart Rice 1-8 (1) all pushed the batsman to the end.
