Explosive openers guide Hip Pocket Rockets to memorable DDBBL grand final victory

CRICKET: A week ago they were one bad result away from missing the finals completely. Now the Hip Pocket Rockets sit atop the throne as kings of the Darling Downs Bush Bash League after a dramatic run chase at Highfields Sports Park.

Hip Pocket Rockets celebrate their win. Photo: Nev Madsen

With the Aidacare Aztecs producing a stunning second half of their innings, led by Jared Sippel’s 76 and 36 from Dan Wilson, the Rockets were set a total of 164 for victory.

WINNING PARTNERSHIP

Chris Wilson (39 off 22) and Pieter van der Kooij (43 off 29) set the tempo right from the outset, scoring quick runs to combine for a first-wicket partnership of 67 runs.

Chris got stuck into brother Dan during the third over, belting three fours and a six to ensure bragging rights in the Wilson clan.

When Wilson was eventually dismissed after seven overs, the Rockets were ticking along nicely at a run rate of 9.5 per over.

Pieter van der Kooij. Photo: Nev Madsen

CLOSERS GET THE JOB DONE

Michael Sippel and Mitchell Bourke took full advantage of the platform set by their openers.

Sippel topscored for the Rockets with a steady 48 from 43, while Bourke hit three maximums on his way to a quick-fire 28 off 16.

The Rockets were at 3/127 when the two combined, requiring 37 runs from 29 balls.

Bourke needed just a handful of balls to get comfortable at the crease, smashing two sixes in the 17th over, getting the required run rate back to a run a ball.

They eventually finished the job with three balls to spare, with a four from Sippel getting the Rockets home by seven wickets.

SIPPEL SHINES WITH MAN OF THE MATCH HONOURS IN DEFEATED AZTECS

Jared Sippel’s innings of 76 from just 34 balls will go down as one of the great knocks in DDBBL history.

Coming in at 1/53, the Aztecs were scoring at less than a run a ball and in need of a spark to post a competitive total on the board.

Once he got his eye in, he unleashed, including belting 17 runs off the 14th over and another 17 off the final over.

He finished the night with 10 boundaries, including three sixes.

With the ball in hand, Sippel took a key wicket in Luke Neale, finishing with figures of 1/23 from three overs.

That was enough to earn him man of the match honours, a rare feat in a beaten side.

Luke Neale executes the run out of Chris Gillam. Photo: Nev Madsen

ROCKETS OWNER STICKS WITH PLAN

Things didn’t go to plan for owner Graham Strang and the Hip Pocket Rockets after missing the finals in the inaugural season of the DDBBL.

Instead of blowing things up and starting from scratch, he stuck with captain Shaun McCarthy and alongside coach Anthony Clark, built a roster with enough firepower to win the competition.

“You can never discount quality. Shaun’s not just a quality player, he’s a quality person too,” Strang said.

“If he commits to something, he puts every bit of his heart and soul into it.

“He did that last year, but we just didn’t have the right players around him.

“As the owners and coaches, we realised he needed a bit more support, and he just shone in the tournament.

“We had the youngest team in the comp by some way. It was just wonderful seeing the performances from those younger players like Mitch Bourke and Darcy Murphy.

“Some guys in our squad are not long driving, let alone playing under pressure situations like these.”

Strang rode the rollercoaster of emotions through the season, from a strong start to the competition that saw them leading heading into the final round, before a heavy loss in their last regular season game almost saw them miss the finals altogether.

He said they held it together when it mattered.

“It’s a bloody amazing feeling,” he said.

“From coming in as total underdogs, right the way through to winning the big game, it’s amazing.

“The team has gelled so well and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“They got a few more runs than we originally planned, but we knew if we got a good start in the powerplay we would be in it.

“Scoring 10 an over for the first six overs got us the right start, and we knew if Mick Sippel batted through, we were going to win.”