Unbeaten Badgers not feeling the pinch ahead of BRBB decider
All things considered, you’d probably forgive the Piccones Badgers for feeling the pinch a little heading into this Saturday’s decider.
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All things considered, you’d probably forgive the Piccones Badgers for feeling the pinch a little heading into this Saturday’s decider.
They’re undefeated, they have three Far North Fusion representative batsmen at the top of the order and they’ve already beaten the Thunder twice and the Hurricanes three times in the inaugural Barrier Reef Big Bash tournament.
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Of course, that’s reason for supreme confidence too, but it would appear as though all the pressure lands squarely on the men in orange ahead of the big dance.
The Badgers aren’t feeling it though, according to wicketkeeper-batsman Angus Warnock.
“I’m sure there is that little bit extra pressure because of the undefeated situation but we just take it a game at a time,” he said.
“There’s been plenty of blokes stand up when they’ve had to and a few smokeys have played their part, so not everyone’s having to commit every game. We’ve had plenty of guys come in and do the job when we’ve had a few blokes out.
“It’s a good young group, take plenty of energy into the field and we’ve just had the momentum on our side so it would be good to keep that rolling.
“We got a fair few pretty quiet fellas but they all do what they need to do and they’ve all come out of their shell a lot since the first game.
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“They’re all very keen and they love the game, and it’s a refreshing situation for us older heads as well, playing with guys that are dead-set loving it and would basically do anything for the team.”
Warnock said he and opening partner Chris Adams, another Far North Fusion representative, wanted to go big in the last game of the season.
“Chris has got a start nearly every game and he’s done it fairly quickly as well,” he said.
“He’s obviously a bit disappointed he hasn’t gone on with some bigger scores, as I am myself, but we’ve gotten us off to a quick start, which is always handy in T20, especially when chasing runs.
“I’m a little bit disappointed with how I’ve been getting out, a couple of good catches and maybe some bad shots here and there, but that’s sort of how the game rolls at times.
“You take the luck if you can get it but if you’re not getting much luck it can be a difficult game, but hopefully we can get a little kick on and make it easy for the middle to lower order.”
Warnock said he had no preference for the Badgers’ opponents in Saturday night’s T20 showdown.
“It’s a tricky one, they’re both good sides,” he said.
“They’ve both got some really good players in their side who can win them the game out of nowhere.
“The Hurricanes on their day can really do some damage.
“The way Reidy (Justin Reid) was hitting them last weekend, he was on another level.
“We’d hate to see him go like that again against us.”
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Both of their previous meetings came down to the last ball, and Halpin Hurricanes skipper Michael Salerno expects another close encounter with the Twomey Schriber Thunder in Friday night’s challenger final at Griffiths Park.
The Hurricanes will take on the Thunder for the right to face the Piccones Badgers in the inaugural Twenty20 Barrier Reef Big Bash grand final on Saturday night.
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Since dropping their first two games of the tournament, the Hurricanes have gone 3-2, with both defeats coming at the hands of the undefeated Badgers in the final over.
In that time, they have defeated the Thunder twice, with a last-ball six from Brendan Nasser and a last-ball wicket off the bowling of Blake Raper securing the respective victories.
Salerno said the Hurricanes would take plenty of confidence into the sudden-death clash after the way they played last weekend.
“We had two close victories and obviously we lost to the Badgers, but the boys are in such good spirits heading into this game and hopefully we can go one better and have another crack at the Badgers,” he said.
“We won the Halpin-Twomey Cup 2-0 so it’s something that they’re probably going to look to avenge and we’ll have to be on our game to make sure we get the clean sweep.”
Salerno said players were riding high after big individual performances last week and were eager to back it up.
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Opener Justin Reid (99 off 60) and Blake Raper (4-8) were the standouts.
“It was always going to take a bit of time for Reidy to adjust coming back from an injury,” Salerno said.
“But he’s hitting the ball probably as good as he’s ever hit it and the confidence he gained from that innings is going to be great for us.
“Blake Raper’s been outstanding with the ball. He’s the leading wicket-taker and we’ll be looking to him to take it up to the Thunder batters.
“Anton Booy has been hitting the ball as good as he’s hit it since he’s come back, and then guys like Barry Weare, that experience is probably what got us over the line against the Thunder in those first two games, having guys that have been able to step up in crucial situations.”
Thunder franchise owner Kev Twomey said boom-hitters Reid and Nasser were the Hurricanes’ biggest threats, and their output would go a long way toward deciding the clash.
The pair have belted 415 runs combined, with Reid (213) just two runs shy of leading run-scorer and Badgers skipper Jake Roach, and Nasser (202) rounding out the top three.
The swashbuckling duo stand between the Thunder and a date with the undefeated Piccones Badgers in Saturday’s decider.
“Justin Reid’s come into a bit of form, he’s probably their main danger, and Brendan Nasser’s hit 99 off us before as well, so they’re two key players that we’re keen to shut down pretty quickly,” Twomey said.
“We’ve lost both games to them on the last ball, so we’re pretty keen to set things straight and get the win.”
He said not only seasons, but also bragging rights, would be on the line.
“There’s certainly some strong banter between me and (Hurricanes’ owner) Darren Halpin, there’s no doubt about that. We’re both keen to win, we’re both competitive and we’re both ready for Friday night.”
The challenger final starts at 6.30pm at Griffiths Park.
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Twomey Schriber Thunder will be a largely unknown quantity when they head into the T20 Barrier Reef Big Bash finals.
The Thunder beat Designer First Homes Dare Devils by 15 runs to secure their place in the final three, an unbeaten 40 from Ben Shrimpton helping build a defendable total before Jordan Fulton led with the cherry.
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Despite having played seven games, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding this outfit.
Coach Steve Kerwitz will spend the next few days working out how his team will approach the preliminary final against Halpin Hurricanes on Friday night.
The Hurricanes endured a slow start to the inaugural tournament but have found form in recent weeks.
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Big scores from Barrier Reef Big Bash Draft No.1 pick Justin Reid and Brendan Nasser lifted the side to big wins when needed most.
Reid’s 99 from 60 balls wasn’t enough to lift the Hurricanes to victory in the major semi-final against Piccones Badgers, but the knock, which featured 14 boundaries and four sixes, was a reminder of his talent and why he must be feared at the pointy end of the competition.
While the Hurricanes seemingly have their squad and order settled, Kerwitz said he may have to tinker with his team to get the best result.
“We haven’t really finished with the bat yet,” Kerwitz said.
“Nasser’s been getting a few good starts – I think he’s got three 30s – but hasn’t gone on with it, and there are a few other guys who are ticking along.
“Benny Shrimpton has had a few good games for us, but I’ve found we have struggled in overs eight to 13. We’ve chopped and changed the order so much but we might look at it again. It might be that Nasser comes in a little later, or someone like Dan Parnell, who can score plenty of runs.”
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The other hurdle the Thunder may have to clear is the weatherman. Showers producing up to 70mm are forecast for Thursday and Friday, and there is a chance of a thunderstorm on both days.
The storm may be on brand for a team named the Thunder, but that’s the last thing they need. If Friday’s preliminary final is washed out, the Thunder’s season will be over.
The winner will face the unbeaten Badgers on Saturday night, an unenviable task given captain Jake Roach and the rest of the order’s recent form.
HOW THE BOWLING UNITS STACK UP
TWOMEY SCHRIBER THUNDER
Jordan Fulton
wickets: 9, average: 9.22, economy: 4.6 best bowling: 4/8
Paul Nasser
wickets: 6, average: 22, economy: 5.5 best bowling: 2/11
Tom Maher
wickets: 7, average: 14.29, economy: 6.25 best bowling: 3/20
Wade Matthews
wickets: 4, average: 31.25, economy: 7.35 best bowling: 2/16
HALPIN HURRICANES
Blake Raper
wickets: 13, average: 10.54, economy: 5.48 best bowling: 4/5
Mark Ellis
wickets: 5, average: 17.6, economy: 5.18 best bowling: 2/17
Luke McAvoy
wickets: 5, average: 22.6, economy: 6.71 best bowling: 2/10
Linden March
wickets: 5, average: 18, economy: 7.5 best bowling: 3/22
Originally published as Unbeaten Badgers not feeling the pinch ahead of BRBB decider
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