Round 8 of the Dunk Insurance Cup continued on the weekend, with one of the highlight matches being staged at Young’s Gus Smith Oval where the Criterion Gunners (second) took on the winless Commercial Hotel Phoenix.
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The Phoenix - who have had their remarkable bowling and fielding efforts brought undone by poor batting displays - lost the toss and were sent in first by opposition captain Leonard Hurcum.
It looked a case of déjà vu when opening batsman Mitch Bawden was bowled by Gunners opening bowler Javarn Hurcum for 4.
Hurcum then had fellow opening batsmen Brian Munn caught by Brendan Sanderson for 1, and Daniel Kelly was bowled by Mark Newham for 1 to have the Phoenix in trouble at 3 for 14 in just the third over.
Jamie Pullen returned to the Phoenix line-up after a two week lay off and joined Rodney Smith to post the highest Phoenix partnership of 49 before Smiths’ innings of 20 from 28 balls was brought to an end by Shannon McKinney.
Brendan Kelly (0 from 4), and Philip Kessey (4 from 8) provided little resistance to the Gunners bowling line-up until stand-in captain Nigel Kelly joined Pullen in the middle for a 32 run partnership.
This saw the Phoenix side pass 100-runs for the first time this season and saw Pullen become the first Phoenix player to score a half century, his 50 coming off 34 deliveries.
It took Gunners skipper Leonard Hurcum to bring himself into the attack to break the partnership picking up the important wicket of Pullen who was caught by Javarn Hurcum for 72 from 53 deliveries, an innings that included 11 fours.
Injured Phoenix skipper Brendon Meynell was the last man at the crease, still recovering from a hairline fracture in his forearm sustained in training a couple of weeks ago.
He joined Nigel Kelly and withstood a barrage of deliveries that were swinging as he provided support to his stand-in captain.
Nigel Kelly was the last man out, looking for quick runs towards the end of the innings with the skipper caught for 38, ending the Phoenix innings on 152 - their highest score for the year.
Kelly picked up the opening wicket in their bowling innings, with some athletic fielding and tight ball control having the Gunners in serious trouble at drinks sitting on 2/57 still needing 95 from the remaining 20 overs.
The Phoenix looked to be on their way to their first win of the season, and the Gunners facing the prospect of going down to the lowest place team.
Big hitting from Shannon McKinney and Mark Newham, added with a cameo appearance from skipper Leonard Hurcum, ensured the game would go right down to the wire.
Needing 16 from the last 18 balls it was going to be a tight affair.
However the energy spent in the field took its toll on the Phoenix side and Newham and Hurcum were able to get the runs with the Gunners seven wickets down and having six balls to spare.
“It was a fantastic game,” Phoenix skipper Brendon Meynell said.
“Anytime you play a Young team in this competition (SWSCL) it is a grudge match, you want to go one up, and we were in with a chance.
“Hopefully this sends the warning to other teams in the competition that our hard work on the training paddock is finally paying off and we are going to be more competitive than we were the first time around.”
Results:
Criterion Gunners, 7 for 153 - 39 overs
defeated Commercial Phoenix, 152 - 29.5 overs.
J Pullen 72 (53)
N Kelly 38 (39)
R Smith 20 (28)
L Hurcum 2 for 27
J Hurcum 2 for 30
J Cunnington 2 for 31