Crusaders take home Hay cricket grand final honours
The South Hay Crusaders side (back row, from left) Charlie Whythes, Simon Parr, Ryan Curtis, Glen Sullivan, Justin Brown, Ken Jubb, and Zac O’Neill. Front: Conrad McGinty, Tom McGufficke, Simon Bunyan, Alex Giddins, Euan Kerr. Images: The Riverine Grazier / Margie McClelland.
By Tom McGufficke
It was the final showdown between the Riverina Rattlers and the South Hay Crusaders; the Hay Cricket Association Grand Final.
It proved to be a vital toss that was won by Crusaders captain Simon Bunyan, who chose to bat first on a grassy wicket.
The Crusaders’ batting innings started positively, getting through the first 10 overs before the loss of their first wicket.
Ben Phillips took his first of the day, bowling Tom McGufficke for 15.
Phillips continued his tight bowling efforts to rip through the Crusaders middle order, taking Justin Brown, Conrad McGinty and Pat Jubb in quick succession.
After 20 overs the Crusaders were 4/77 and the game looking evenly poised.
Simon Bunyan (71) held steady to rebuild the Crusaders innings as the wickets fell around him.
He was well supported by Glen Sullivan (14).
Dean Aylett was the partnership breaker when he picked up the wickets of both Bunyan and Sullivan, leaving Crusaders at 5/109 with five overs remaining.
This brought Simon Parr (20 not out) and Charlie Wythes (five not out) to the crease.
With some power hitting from Parr and good running between the wickets, the duo finished the Crusaders innings on 7/143, scoring 19 off the final over.
Phillips, who took 4/16 off six was the best of the Riv bowlers, with Dean Aylett 2/40 and Liam Whitbourne the other wicket takers.
Hay Cricket’s Brian Harrington (left) and premiership captain Simon Bunyan.
Photo gallery below.
Runners-up The Riverina Rattlers. Back row: Dan Jamieson, Bill Auldist, Dean Aylett, Sam Jones, Mitch Mijok, and Dallas Giddins. Front: Liam Whitburne, Digby Lilburne, Ben Phillips, Jason Aylett, and Kazi Tanzil.
The Rattlers needed 144 from 30 overs, and the Riv openers got off to a quick start but lost both batsmen early for a score of 2/21.
Kazi Islam (51) and Digby Lilburne (16) built a strong partnership to rebuild the Riv innings, before Simon Bunyan took the wicket of Lilburne to leave Riv 3/66 at the half way point.
Kazi, along with Jason Aylett, looked to continue the Riv chase, before Justin Brown struck to get his first - the big wicket of Kazi - to leave Riv at 4/84.
Riv needed 60 runs from the final eight overs, and Jason Aylett tried to take control of the batting innings.
However, tight Crusaders bowling led by Brown meant the Riv side were only able to add a further 28 runs, ending all out for 112.
This was due to an inspired Justin Brown five wicket bowling performance.
Brown, the best of the Crusaders bowlers finished 5/11 off his six overs.
He was well supported by Tom McGufficke (3/31), Simon Bunyan and Charlie Wythes both taking one wicket each.
