Barrier Reef Big Bash: Badgers bring it home at the death
In a tight contest between two star-studded sides, an unlikely hero powered his side to a championship.
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In a tight contest between two star-studded sides, an unlikely hero powered his side to a championship.
In a thrilling finale under the lights at Griffiths Park, the Piccones Badgers clinched a dramatic one-wicket victory over the CA Architect Cyclones to win the T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash grand final on Friday night.
Cyclones set a modest target of 119, the Badgers’ chase was a rollercoaster, with wickets falling left, right and centre.
Despite a strong start from Badgers Tim Ward, who hit 25 from 24 balls and a solid contribution from Jake Roach (19 off 19), the Badgers were stifled by tight bowling from the Cyclones.
Cameron Davis (3-28) and Brenton Edwards (3-21) were exceptional, along with Ranjodh Singh Yodha (2-14) as the Badgers found themselves at a precarious 8-110 in the final over.
With nine runs needed from the last six balls, the game reached a nailbiting climax.
Badgers found seven runs from the first three balls including a boundary from Ben Jones before chaos struck when he was run-out on the fourth last ball.
Needing two runs from three balls and with the tension palpable.
Badgers spinner Ben McCartney stepped up with nerves of steel and bashed the ball to the boundary, securing the Badgers’ victory by one wicket and sending the side into raptures.
Earlier in the match, the Cyclones had struggled to build partnerships, finishing with just 118-8 in their 20 overs. Angus Warnock (22 from 21 balls), Brenton Edwards (31 from 30), and David Coulthard (27 from 22) were the mainstays, but the Badgers’ bowlers — led by Sean Prior (2-12) and Brody Zanetich (2-12) — played their part in restricting the run-rate.
It was a heart-stopping finish with the Badgers lifting the trophy by the narrowest of margins.
Talent, fierce competition and a brother’s farewell
The Barrier Reef Big Bash home-and-away season has finished for another year, with the two best teams now preparing for a do-or-die clash on Friday night at Griffiths Park.
Far North’s premier cricketers and captains, Angus Warnock and Jake Roach, will go head-to-head, with Warnock’s Cyclones looking to dethrone Roach’s Badgers in a contest filled with talent, fierce competition and a brother farewelling the game.
The Fusion opening partnership of Roach and Aidan Firman, which secured the Far North’s ticket to the Gabba for the third year in a row last weekend at the Bulls Masters Country Challenge, will now lock horns.
Far North gun and country Queensland representative Jake Roach has been the premier batsman of the tournament, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer with 288 runs (averaging 96, with a high score of 83).
Meanwhile, the Cyclones’ emerging batsman Firman put together strong scores of 43 runs from 45 balls and an unbeaten 68 from 47 balls against some of the best country cricketers around at the Bulls Masters last weekend.
“Firman has come out of the Bulls Masters showing some promising form,” Cyclones captain Angus Warnock said.
“Aidan’s really comfortable against fast bowlers, and he’s suited to opening the batting. Fresh off a full off-season in Darwin, he’ll definitely be one to look out for.”
Warnock also mentioned Barron River basher Adam Trewin, who scored 158 runs (the third-most in the competition) and averaged 31.6 runs per innings during the tournament.
“Trewin had a great start to the season, and he’ll do a job for us wherever we need him — he’s a very versatile player,” Warnock said.
“He’s strong against spin through the middle overs, and when you need to hit the outfield and run fast between the wickets, that’s when he comes into his own.”
Cyclones’ demon paceman Henry King (seven wickets) will be a late call-up for the grand final after missing last week’s Bulls Masters due to injury.
Meanwhile, fellow bowlers Ranjodh Singh Yodha (11 wickets) and Cameron Davis (eight wickets) have both had strong tournaments.
Badgers’ spin duo Mark Ellis (seven wickets) and Ben McCartney (eight wickets) will be tough to put away, having both shown excellent form.
“Both of those guys are experienced and crafty, especially in conditions up here in Cairns,” Warnock said.
“But they’re human — they will give us a bad ball. It’s just a matter of being patient, respecting the good deliveries, and putting the bad ones away.”
The Warnock brothers, Angus and Mitch, will relish the occasion, with Mitch having announced he will not be playing for Norths in the first-grade competition this year.
“It’ll be a big moment for Mitch and me — we’ve been playing together since we were junior cricketers,” Angus said.
“If it’s his last game, hopefully we’ll seal it with a victory and celebrate in style. If not, he’s had a great career. I’m looking forward to seeing him bowl, he’s the ultimate competitor and will give 100 per cent.”
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Originally published as Barrier Reef Big Bash: Badgers bring it home at the death
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