AUTOPRO Bombers have moved to outright first on the McDonald’s T20 ladder, surging to four wins with some big tests to come.
Are Able Bulldogs and Beverford Tavern Demons, who both had the bye on Saturday, are a win behind on the ladder but join the Bulldogs in remaining unbeaten.
All three teams are set to play each other over the final three rounds of the tournament.
With star all-rounder Peter Moore missing from their line-up, Autopro Bombers were pushed all the way in their matches against the Tyrrell Cricket Swans and cluBarham Raiders.
After bowling Tyrrell Cricket Swans out for 100 at Riverside Park, the Bombers made hard work of the run chase, middle-order batsman Bohden McKnight top-scoring with a hard-hitting 30 from 24 balls.
When McKnight was bowled by Swans spinner Ian Schodde in the 10th over, the home side suddenly found themselves in trouble at 7/64.
Captain Ryan Barnes (18 not out) combined with Flynn McKnight (10) to guide them home to a two-wicket win.
Barnes was pleased the team continued its winning streak despite being below its best.
“We started off a bit rough, Lachie Edwards got them off to a flyer and was batting pretty well, but young Sam Copland stepped up at took four wickets, which was good to see,” he said.
“Our batting was pretty average, with the exception of ‘Boh’ (McKnight), so to chase the runs down was a pretty good result.
“It wasn’t a great performance, we didn’t play our best cricket that’s for sure, but it was good that we were able to find a way and grind it out in the end.
“With both games, we could have easily dropped our bundle and got rolled, but the boys just found a way in two different scenarios on the same day to grind it out and come away with the win.”
In a hard-fought 24-run win over cluBarham Raiders, the Bombers defended their 9/104 thanks to three-wicket hauls from Barnes (3/10) and veteran Greg Dickson (3/17).
Barnes said Saturday’s performance was the perfect response to a loss to the Raiders earlier in the season.
“It was good to be able to get one back on them, especially on their home ground,” Barnes said.
“They were pretty confident that they would roll us, so it was good to see our boys stand up, show a bit of fight and grind it out from the position that we were in, defending 104.
“(The Raiders) came out and went pretty hard early, but we backed ourselves to bowl tight, build pressure and in the end, they threw their wickets away.”
The Raiders’ T20 hopes took a double blow, earlier defeated by Beverford Tavern Demons by 31 runs.
Batting first, the Demons amassed 7/160 on an at-times difficult wicket, Dean Harrop blasting 54 from 39 balls at the top of the order.
Tristan Dalbon (21) and Josh Domaille (25 not out) provided support, while Chameera Akurugoda was pick of the bowlers for the home side with 3/20.
A slow but steady start had the Raiders in the game for much of their innings, and Warren Lolicato (56) threatened to take the game away from the Demons.
His dismissal in the 15th over triggered the end of the resistance, however, the Raiders’ middle and lower order losing 5/29 from the final 35 balls, handing the Demons their third win of the competition.
