NORTH have bounced back from a comprehensive defeat by the Magpies last time out, after another tantalising clash between North and Central in the Barrier District Cricket League A-Grade lived up to expectations when the contest was reduced to a T20 format at Alma Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Coming off a big loss to the Central, North were looking forward to having another crack at a strong Magpies outfit.
The game was originally scheduled to be a 40-over clash, to played at the Jubilee Oval, but unfortunately, due to some issues with the outfield, the game had to be moved and reduced to a T20.
After having a look at the wicket, respective captains Tobias Hack and Sheldon Hall would have both been keen to have a bat first, as the deck looked flat and was showing barely any signs of use even after the game between West and South earlier that day.
The coin landed Central’s way, and they unsurprisingly chose to bat first.
The Pies chose to send the big guns out first, with Hall and Jarred Paull a daunting partnership for the North bowlers.
Cain and Wilson (0/19) opened up and after the ball did a little bit for a couple of overs, found it difficult to get on top of the aggressive Central pairing early.
McEvoy and Vella also attempted to break through the partnership to no avail, as boundaries began to flow on a lightning-fast outfield in the baking sun.
Central cruised to the 10-over drinks break without really looking like losing a wicket, unbeaten at 0/64 and showing no signs of slowing down.
The drinks break came at the perfect time for the Dogs, who were beginning to look a little flustered in the field. A polite conversation over a perfectly mixed red cordial saw the decision to bring Anthony Tidball into the attack for the first time.
With the first ball after the drinks interval, Paull (28) managed to pick out Connor McLean on the deep midwicket boundary and after two or three juggles, he was on his way.
Maalste (0/31) toiled away from the airport end with a tail breeze without luck. It would be Tidball (2/9) who would again strike a short time later after a magnificent leg-side stumping from Hack saw Robards (5) caught short of his ground, the Pies now 2/76 in the 13th over.
Hall was continuing to have a dip and managed to find the gaps in the field, a number of shots going just past the outstretched hands of the North fielders as he reached his half century.
Vella returned to the attack and, after a number of boundaries, Hall (50) attempted one too many big shots. He was caught well on the long-on boundary by the returning Nash Mitchell, who looked quite at home streaming out from the goal square to take the catch on his chest.
From here North began to tighten the screws, conceding only 19 runs from the final five overs as McEvoy (1/22), Cain (1/12) and Vella (2/20) all took wickets in the dying stages to see Central restricted to 6/115, after being seemingly flying to a big score after the first 10 overs.
Credit to the North bowling and fielding effort in the second half of the innings, and whatever Tony Wilson put in the cordial.
A different looking opening pair went out to the middle for a third straight game, with McLean and Maalste to open up against a Central attack which knew they needed to make early inroads.
A very patient start from both batsmen saw the tally creep along at a decent pace early, with both McLean and Maalste taking their time, running well between the wickets and picking off the odd bad ball for some lovely boundaries.
This partnership continued at this rate until the first drinks, with North almost halfway to the target without really taking any major risks. The opening pair, quite like in the Central innings, not losing a wicket in the first 10 overs and heading to drinks at 0/56.
As witnessed earlier in the day, things can change quickly in T20 cricket.
Three overs passed after the drinks break including one that went for 17 as Maalste went on the attack.
Unfortunately he was dismissed a short time later by Hall for a well made 39 from 38 balls, but had done his job in getting the chase off to a ripping start.
An over later, McLean was bowled for 22 in his best innings for the club so far.
Now at 2/79, it was make or break time for the Dogs – long-time followers of the club have seen North teams collapse from positions like this one more times than the boys would like to admit.
Luckily this week, it was the team’s two in-form batsmen at the crease in Hack and Wilson, who decided they would be the ones to steer the ship home.
Hack (29 not out), coming off a hundred last weekend, decided to pick up where he left off, taking a particular liking to the bowling of Hall as he launched several sixes into the Alma school fence.
Wilson (11 not out) not to be left behind, also managed a “big boy” six as the pair made light work of the remaining 37 runs, getting the job done with ease off just 17.4 overs.
While this win was a big step, North still have some work to do before they can claim the minor premiership with a three-game gap atop the BDCL Ladder, with four rounds remaining.
Next week North has a week off due to the Australia Day long weekend, before returning on February 1 against South at the Jubilee Oval (hopefully).
Result: North 2/119 (Maalste 39, Hack 29*, McLean 22) defeated Central 6/115 (Hall 50, Paull 28, Tidball 2/9) by 8 wickets.
