Forecasts of rain threatened Round 4 of the Northam Tavern Twenty20 Cup. However, it held off, and play went ahead with a number of bright performances under the gloomy skies.
At Bakers Hill Oval, Grass Valley won the toss and chose to bat. They proceeded to blast one of the highest scores of the season, reaching 3 for 173 from 20 overs. Notable contributions from Clancy Thompson (53 not out), Kitt Byfield (42 not out), and Bailey O'Driscoll (32), elevated the total. Spinner Brodee Starcevich was the pick of the bowlers for Bakers Hill Green, taking an early wicket in the third over and finishing with 1 for 15 from his 3 overs.
In reply, Matt Jankauskas (55) stood out with the bat for Bakers Green. His half century was the most meaningful tally as none of his teammates reached double figures. Bakers Green completed their 20 overs, totalling 8 for 102. For Valley, Glenn Smith claimed early wickets to finish with 2 for 8 from 3 overs. Kane O'Driscoll (1 wicket for 13 runs from 3 overs) took the prize early wicket of Paul Clune, snicking behind to the keeper. Lachie Thompson continued his recent form with 1 for 15 from 3 overs.
In the other game, Bakers Hill Gold proved too strong for Ferals. After winning the toss, Bakers elected to bowl. It proved decisive as they claimed regular early wickets to reduce Ferals to 4 for 31. The middle order rallied thanks largely to Troy Sims, who top scored with 39. Ferals were bowled out in the final over for 90.
Mr Cricket, Steve Wainewright, was the destroyer with 3 for 6 from his 3 overs. His spell was matched by unusual leggie Stuart Youngson who proved very effective (3 for 8 from 3 overs).
The Ferals total seemed below par and so it proved as Bakers Gold compiled 5 for 134 from their 20 overs. James Everett lead Bakers Gold with the bat with an unbeaten 52. Michael Ferguson (1 for 9 from 2) was the most economical of the Ferals wicket takers. His first delivery of the afternoon was pulled sweetly to the square leg boundary. His second was a rising delivery, a little fuller, that Wainewright parried to extra cover where the simple catch was held by Jacob Smith. The same two young Ferals were involved in a heartstopping incident late in the game.
A catch was popped up to point, Ferguson and Smith both charged for it from opposite directions, eyes only for the ball. Amidst their undoubted commitment, neither called for the catch, which went down as the two crashed into each other. Both players were seemingly okay but it could have been much worse. In the first Test in Sri Lanka in 1999, Steve Waugh was left with a disfigured nose and Jason Gillespie broke his leg in a similar incident. Fortunately, it didn't end as badly for the local lads.
