By Nick Creely
Tooradin has done very little wrong in this cricket season to date, and the club snared its first piece of silverware this year on Sunday in the West Gippsland’s Kookaburra Twenty20 Cup, clinching the title in a last-ball thriller.
The Seagulls – also sitting second on the Premier division table as it searches for its first flag since 2012/13 – are blessed with an abundance of star power, and it was all on show on Sunday’s finals day at Pakenham’s Toomuc Reserve.
Skipper Cal O’Hare and his group started the day in dominant fashion, cruising past Devon Meadows in the semi-final.
Restricting the Panthers to just 7/75 – helped largely by Josh Lownds – who snared the impressive figures of 2/5 off four overs, including two maidens, the Seagulls raced the total down in just 11.3 overs, with Neil Peake continuing his fine season with an unbeaten 43.
On the opposing oval, Clyde pulled off a stunner, knocking off Pakenham in a major upset, with the Cougars in vintage touch.
After setting 127 for victory, the Cougars gave the Lions very little chance, restricting the champs to 6/108 off its 20 overs, with Liam Bennett (3/13) particularly influential.
With both sides desperate to pick up some silverware with regular season finals looming for both teams, the Cougars elected to bat in the grand final, and off the back of a superb hand from Kiefer Peries (59), mustered up 9/118 after a shaky start.
Troy Lehman (3/19) showcased his immense class with a terrific spell through the middle for the Seagulls, while Bailey Lownds (2/15) did the early damage with the ball.
The Seagulls lost a wicket in the first over of the chase, and when Peake, Dylan Sutton and Aaron Avery all found themselves back in the shed without causing any damage, the favourites were 4/49 off 10 overs, still requiring 69 runs to win.
But through skipper Cal O’Hare (56 not out) – who combined in a crucial stand with Russ Lehman (31) – the Seagulls clawed its way back, before the wicket of Lehman at the start of the final over with six required off five balls.
Some tight bowling from the Cougars saw the game tied with a ball to spare, before Ben Mantel slashed a cut-shot through the field for four to win the game for his club.
O’Hare – who steered the ship in a true captain’s knock – was duly awarded man of the match in the club’s second ever Kookaburra Cup title.
Tooradin – 2019/20 Kookaburra Cup champions
Neil Peake – four matches, 198 runs at 66
Josh Lownds – four matches, 77 runs at 19.3, two wickets at 21.5
Cal O’Hare (captain) – four matches, 85 runs at 28.3
Dylan Sutton – four matches, 20 runs at 5, two wickets at 13.5
Aaron Avery – four matches, 17 runs at 5.7
Russell Lehman – three matches, 31 runs at 31, five wickets at 15.6
Ben Mantel – three matches, 5 runs
Brodie Yapp (wk) – four matches, 11 runs at 11, one catch, two stumpings
Bailey Lownds – four matches, DNB, six wickets at 10.7
Ash Adams – four matches, 9 runs at 9, three wickets at 31.7
Troy Lehman – four matches, DNB, four wickets at 20
Brad Butler – three matches, 5 runs
**Stats are for the Kookaburra Twenty20 Cup only
