Post-season pecking order on the line in final round of T20s

Walkerston, Norths and Magpies are all jostling for top spot and a grand final bye

Walkerston batsman Sam Vassallo tees off against Magpies last season. Picture: Tony Martin

From T20 nobodies to perennial contenders, Walkerston is on track to once again be in the thick of the action at the pointy end of the Dixon Homes Div 1 T20 Shootout.

The reigning champions sit in equal first heading into the final round this weekend, but will face two tough hurdles to keep their top spot hopes alive.

Saturday’s clash with Norths looms as a potential grand final preview – the winner will move a game ahead of the other and take one step closer to securing direct passage to the decider.

But even if Walkerston does the good deed against Norths, a Brothers side with nothing to lose will pose just as stern a test on Sunday.

After losing both games last weekend – and skipper Matthew Wicks to a hamstring injury – Brothers sit two games adrift of the finals placings and need to win-out, and other results go their way, to have any say in the post-season.

It shapes as a monster weekend of T20 action on all fronts, and Walkerston opener Sam Vassallo is keen to get started.

A lean batting stint last weekend aside, Vassallo has been in fine hitting form this season and is eager to test himself against the stacked bowling line-ups of Norths and Brothers.

“(Norths) obviously has one of the best bowling attacks going. As a batting unit we really like to go after them,” Vassallo said.

“I think they rely on their bowling and we’re probably the opposite, that’s what makes it such a good battle with us.”

Both sides boast quality bowling attacks and damaging top-order bats, but Vassallo believes his side can bat lower if required.

“Even if we miss out at the top, we have guys down low that can cash in,” he said.

As for Brothers, Vassallo admitted no Wicks would make his life a whole lot easier, but Walkerston would still have to be wary of the Poole Cup ladder-leaders.

“I think Wicksy being out will hurt them. It makes it a bit easier for me though – I don’t really like facing him,” the opener said.

“We just have to make sure we beat both (Norths and Brothers).”

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After having last season’s Poole Cup title taken from their hands without a fight, as the lower-ranked grand final seed, Vassallo said Walkerston made a pact to leave as little to chance as possible.

That means doing everything necessary to claim top spot and book a place in the grand final as the number one seed.

“We still have a few scars from last year and missing out on that (Poole Cup) grand final,” he said.

“A big goal for us is to finish on top. Win the two this weekend and take that number one spot out.”

Magpies is the other side locked in the three-way battle for top spot.

Rhys McBride’s group face Souths on Saturday before a blockbuster encounter with Norths on Sunday, which could well determine the post-season pecking order.

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