Northern Region Twenty20: Epping defeats Heidelberg by nine runs in final

Epping hopes its victory in the Northern Region Twenty20 decider will provide the impetus for a successful finish to the Barclay Shield campaign.

Epping celebrates its victory in the Northern Region T20 final. Picture: Supplied.

Epping hopes its victory in the Northern Region Twenty20 decider will provide the impetus for a successful finish to the Barclay Shield campaign.

The Pingers accounted for Heidelberg in the T20 final on Tuesday, restricting the Tigers to 129 after posting 5-138 at Epping Reserve.

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Thomas Emmins (45 not out) and Todd Hughes (4-22) were the heroes for Epping, guiding the club to a breakthrough title.

“It was a great result,” First XI captain Andrew Bennett said.

“We’d set ourselves for the tournament for probably the last three years.

“Before that the club hadn’t really put a lot of time and effort into it, it was a bit of a side gimmick.

“But the last three years we’ve really put a big emphasis on it.”

Epping sits second on the DVCA ladder, six points clear of Rosanna, Macleod and Lower Eltham.

A victory this weekend in a one-day fixture against third-placed Rosanna would all but seal the Pingers’ finals spot as they target their first premiership since 2007-08 in the DVCA top grade.

“That’s four weeks in a row we have played and anytime you’re winning, it gives confidence to the group,” Bennett said.

“A couple of the games were really tight. Even in the semi-final, it was tough, hard cricket, even though it was a Twenty20.

“It just helps winning games of cricket and finding different ways to win games of cricket.”

Bennett lauded the performances of matchwinners Emmins and Hughes, while T20 skipper Anthony Licovski’s knock of 39 was crucial at the top of the order.

“Tom’s red-ball form has been fantastic, but with the T20s and work, he’s not sure if he’s able to get there half the time,” he said.

“He struck them as cleanly as he has hit them all year. His innings was invaluable.

“Todd came to the club as a bat who just does a bit of part-time leg-spin. But there’s more in it than that. I think he got four (wickets) in the semi as well.

“Just the pace off and I think over the wrist spinners in T20, he’s the type of bowler that is really hard to get under.”

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