THE Bulldogs have secured themselves a T20 title with a resounding victory against the West Broken Hill Cricket Club.
Missing some huge names in the likes of captain Tobias Hack and Codie Howard, the Dogs rose to the occasion and demonstrated an exquisite display of skill and talent.
Captain Jordan Vella won the toss and elected to bat, with Luke Hall and Michael Maalste to open the North account. Each wasted little time in getting into their work, with the standard being set early in the piece.
It was unfortunate that the in-form Maalste would be first to depart, caught off the bowling of Adam Perry.
This brought the dangerous Benjamin Jurd to the crease who had the appetite for big runs.
Unfortunately, Hall would soon depart after a well made 14 runs, caught and bowed off the bowling of Laurence Hebbard.
This brought Austin Wilson to the proceedings, who paired with Jurd in a crucial partnership of the innings.
The two amassed a 112 run partnership, dispatching the West attack to all parts of the Alma Oval.
Jurd once again raised the bat, notching up another 50 to his growing tally of North milestones.
After an incredible partnership, Wilson was caught off the bowling of Jordan Meehan to be dismissed for an 40 runs. Jurd would follow in similar fashion later that over for 59 off the bowling of Lachlan Kaye.
Captain Vella and Connor McClean were now at the crease with Vella making his presence known, slotting a lofted off drive over the boundary for six.
Vella (seven not out) and McClean (3 not out) concluded North’s innings at 4-152.
With North’s massive tally on the board, West were always up against it in the chase.
Notwithstanding some early lusty blows off the blade of Kaye and Perry, it would be the former to depart first, caught Hall bowled Wilson.
Maalste would continue proceedings, taking two wickets in an over to dismiss the opposition captain Mackenzie Attard for four and Perry 10, caught by Hall and Riley Bomford respectively.
West were reeling at 3-28.
A strong partnership between Matthew Adams and Meehan saw West offer some excellent resistance.
With Adams dispatching many a ball to the boundary in his 24 run total, it would be the reliable Jurd who would quell this resistance, clean bowling Adams.
From this point onwards wickets continued to fall in regular instalments.
As the run rate climbed higher it became clear that West would need to get a hurry on if they were going to chase down the runs.
Captain Vella removed the dangerous Lachlan Harvey for two, caught well by Jurd.
The wily veteran Ben Victory found himself amongst the wickets, claiming Hebbard, caught by the captain for a well made 10.
Callum Rosewarn and Meehan (28 not out) offered an effective rearguard action late in the piece, however this was too little, too late as Wilson dismissed Rosewarn for 17, with West still 39 runs in arrears.
West concluded their innings at 7-114, with the Dogs claiming a 38 run victory.
Wicketkeeper Luke Hall who performed exceptionally well with the gloves, keeping a clean sheet in the absence of Hack – not a single bye conceded.
North 4-152 defeat West 7-114
The season now moves to 40 over games, with another West versus North clash at the Alma oval tomorrow.
