Kiama Cavaliers crowned Sommers T20 champs in one-run win against Lake Illawarra

Kiama won their maiden Sommers T20 trophy in a nail-biter against Lake Illawarra. Check out who starred on the day and who were the best performers of the season.

The Kiama Cavaliers took out the South Coast District Cricket Association’s Sommers T20 competition in a thriller at Lake Illawarra’s Howard Fowles Oval on Sunday.

Cavs skipper Jaya Hartgerink won the toss and opted to bat against Lake Illawarra who finished the regular season in top spot, only ahead of Kiama on percentage.

Hyeon Parsons and Matt Brockman put on 29 runs before the latter was caught out for four.

Kiama’s leading run scorer Liam Mackrell didn’t last long, bowled by Lake captain Mark Ulcigrai leaving the side at 2/39.

Hartgerink and Parsons put on another 14 runs before the opener was snared by Ulcigrai for 43 - his top score of the short form summer.

The Kiama captain worked away with support from Tom Norris (12) and Cooper Harrison (16) before he was out for 40 off the bowling of Ulcigrai. Hartgerink’s knock featured four sixes.

Kiama finished with a competitive 8/135 with Ryan Smith the best of the bowlers for Lake, taking 4/22. Ulcigrai claimed three polls at an expensive 45 runs.

136 runs to win in the SCDCA T20 1st Grade GF. Live scores in the chase below ⬇️⬆️

Posted by Kiama Cavaliers on Saturday, January 29, 2022

Lake Illawarra’s openers Max Henderson and William Gamble were gone early for seven and six respectively, before Nathan Hore came to the wicket to steady the innings.

Hore eventually caught leg before wicket by Blake Mackrell for 22 leaving his side at 4/49.

Ryan Maguire and Nick Jennings put together a handy partnership before Jennings was run out on 14 with the side 36 runs shy of the victory target.

Maguire was joined at the crease by his skipper Ulcigrai and they worked their side into the position of needing 15 runs off the final over for victory.

The pair, despite hitting nine boundaries between them, including three sixes off the bat of Maguire, fell two runs short of victory with their innings concluding at 5/134.

Maguire finished unbeaten on 57 runs while Mackrell was the pick of the Cavs attack with a miserly 1/11.

The trophy was Kiama’s first ever in 20-over cricket and first grade’s first since 1985 - the same year Allan Border scored 196 for Australia in a famous Ashes victory at Lord’s.

Leading SCDCA Sommers T20 batters

1. Kieran Gilly (The Rail)

159 runs @ 79.5

The Rail batsman Kieran Gilly led the run-scoring charts, following on his form from the longer versions of the game. Picture: SCDCA

Kieran Gilly finished the 20-over season as the leading run scorer in the SCDCA.

The 25-year-old knocked two half 50s in four innings, including competition-high 82 against neighbours Albion Park.

It‘s no coincidence the only game The Rail lost came when Gilly failed to register a decent knock, hit just a single in a defeat to Kiama in round five.

2. William Gamble (Lake Illawarra)

150 runs @ 37.50

William Gamble started the T20 season in fine touch with a 72 against Shellharbour and a 42 against Oak Flats.

The Lake opener had little trouble finding, and clearing, the boundary with 11 fours and seven sixes across his four knocks.

Gamble scoring just six runs in the final shows why cricket can be such a frustrating game.

3. Brendan White (Lake Illawarra)

144 runs @ 48
Brendan White showed a good touch with the bat throughout with a 72 against Shellharbour and a 58 not out against the Kookas.

White was the biggest hitter in the competition, clearing the fence on 12 occasions.

Like Gamble, he will be thinking about what could have been after being dismissed for three in the final.

4. Liam Mackrell (Kiama Cavaliers)

125 runs @ 62.5

Liam Mackrell was a consistent run scorer for the Cavs. Picture: SCDCA

Kiama wicketkeeper-batsman Liam Mackrell may have missed out on a score in the final, however, his consistent batting helped his side get there.

Mackrell’s top score was 45 not out against Albion Park in round seven, but he also finished with a 44 not out against The Rail and 35 against Oak Flats earlier in the season.

5. Alex Brown (Shellharbour City)

117 runs @ 117

Alex Brown only played two matches this season, but he made them count with two big scores.

Brown hit and unbeaten 68 against Albion Park in round two before falling a run short of a half century in a defeat to Lake Illawarra in round three.

Brown finished the short-form season with 13 fours - the most in the competition.

Leading SCDCA Sommers T20 bowlers

1. Adam Ison (The Rail)

8 wickets @ 9.25

Adam Ison took the only five-wicket haul of the T20 season. Picture: SCDCA

Adam Ison was at his best during the T20 campaign with competition-best eight wickets while going at a stingy six runs an over.

The Rail tweaker bagged the only five-for of the tournament in round six when he skittled through Albion Park, taking their rival‘s top four.

2. Matt Roach (Lake Illawarra)

7 wickets @ 11.42

Matt Roach was the second-most economical bowler of the top 20 wicket takers with an impressive economy rate of 5.08 (bettered by Gilly’s four an over).

Roach’s best performance came against the Oak Flats when here tore through the Rats’ middle order, ending with figures of 3/19.

The Lake Illawarra quick wasn’t able to add to his season haul in the final when he bowled two overs for 19 runs.

3. Tim Goodall (The Rail)

6 wickets @ 15.83

Tim Goodall was consistent throughout the competition, taking wickets in all four games played.

The Rail spinner was also pretty economical, going at a tick under six runs an over.

4. Byron Lawler (Oak Flats Rats)

5 wickets @ 12.4

Oak Flats youngster Byron Lawler was terrific in his two matches. Picture: Facebook

Byron Lawler has done well to get on the list given he only played two games in the tournament.

The youngster’s best bowling figures came against the eventual champions Kiama in round three when he snagged 3/27 at Geoff Shaw Oval.

His other two wickets came against Lake Illawarra in round two (which was played on the same day as round two), giving him a season strike rate of 9.60.

5. Daniel Reilly (Kiama Cavaliers)

5 wickets @ 18.2

Daniel Reilly was a consistent performer over the short-form season with five wickets over the season at a tick over six runs and over.

The medium pacer’s best figures came in the final round when he picked up 2/21 against Albion Park.