The young Millicent Black Hats team headed by teenager Ashton Lindner became the toast of the Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association on Saturday by beating the odds and winning the premiership.
His brilliant spell of 5/9 helped to scuttle Rendelsham for only 63 and set up a grand final triumph by nine wickets.
Played at Rendelsham, the home side was the red-hot favourite in the perfect conditions as it was the minor premier, reigning premier and winner of the toss.
Such factors did not worry the young Black Hats team and it bowled and fielded in a brilliant fashion and then chased down the target at a canter.
Skipper Mitchell “Nugget” Nitschke was unbeaten on 49 to go with his two catches while Lindner was named as player of the grand final.
Things had started well for Rendelsham as skipper Ayden Reid won the toss and elected to bat.
But it quickly went pear-shaped for the home side on the 14th ball of the innings.
Reid attempted to get off the mark with a pull shot off the bowling of Jaxon Cushion.
He succeeded only in mistiming the shot and it fell into the safe hands of Jett Werchon at deep fine leg.
It was the first of seven ducks to be recorded on the Rendelsham scorecard.
Dylan Clough then strode to the crease with his side 1/1.
Cushion immediately disturbed Clough’s furniture and he found himself on his sixth opportunity to claim a hattrick with Jake Wight next in line.
There was to be no fairytale ending for Cushion as the hattrick ball passed safely down the leg-side.
Wickets continued to fall to Cushion, Michael Gibson and Lindner with the only resistance coming from vice captain Jacob Carger.
Carger’s tally of 41 was the top Rendelsham score by far and included six fours – and with him sitting at the crease with the scoreboard reading 7/61, Rendelsham might have fancied themselves of reaching as many as 100.
However, Lindner had other plans as he dismissed Carger for 41 and then cleaned up the tail with a further two wickets.
The reigning premier and minor premier was dismissed on the first ball of the 27th over for a meagre 63.
Veteran wicketkeeper Dwayne Gray was the not-out batsman.
As well the fine bowling figures achieved by Lindner and Cushion (3/12 and one catch), veteran Michael Gibson chimed in with 2/21.
If Nitschke had any qualms about his side being spooked by the run chase, they were quickly dispelled.
The man known as “Nugget” kept his pads on after an innings as a wicketkeeper and opened the innings for the Millicent Black Hats.
He despatched the third delivery of the innings from Jake Wight over deep square leg boundary.
Nitschke added a further three sixers and three fours to his fast-paced unbeaten knock of 49.
The only joy for the Rendelsham attack came the way of Wight who persuaded Jacob Todd to nick the ball into Gray’s safe hands when his score was 10.
It took the visitors just over 13 overs to reach the target.
Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association president Jase Bateman was there at the close and was three not out.
Post-match, he conducted the presentation ceremony and then joined his teammates in posing for the cameras in front of the large crowd.
The new Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association Premiers had eight teenagers among their winning 11.
Gibson took delight in sharing the victory with his team mate and son Kobe Gibson.
The young Millicent Black Hats team headed by teenager Ashton Lindner became the toast of the Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association on Saturday by beating the odds and winning the premiership.
His brilliant spell of 5/9 helped to scuttle Rendelsham for only 63 and set up a grand final triumph by nine wickets.
Played at Rendelsham, the home side was the red-hot favourite in the perfect conditions as it was the minor premier, reigning premier and winner of the toss.
Such factors did not worry the young Black Hats team and it bowled and fielded in a brilliant fashion and then chased down the target at a canter.
Skipper Mitchell “Nugget” Nitschke was unbeaten on 49 to go with his two catches while Lindner was named as player of the grand final.
Things had started well for Rendelsham as skipper Ayden Reid won the toss and elected to bat.
But it quickly went pear-shaped for the home side on the 14th ball of the innings.
Reid attempted to get off the mark with a pull shot off the bowling of Jaxon Cushion.
He succeeded only in mistiming the shot and it fell into the safe hands of Jett Werchon at deep fine leg.
It was the first of seven ducks to be recorded on the Rendelsham scorecard.
Dylan Clough then strode to the crease with his side 1/1.
Cushion immediately disturbed Clough’s furniture and he found himself on his sixth opportunity to claim a hattrick with Jake Wight next in line.
There was to be no fairytale ending for Cushion as the hattrick ball passed safely down the leg-side.
Wickets continued to fall to Cushion, Michael Gibson and Lindner with the only resistance coming from vice captain Jacob Carger.
Carger’s tally of 41 was the top Rendelsham score by far and included six fours – and with him sitting at the crease with the scoreboard reading 7/61, Rendelsham might have fancied themselves of reaching as many as 100.
However, Lindner had other plans as he dismissed Carger for 41 and then cleaned up the tail with a further two wickets.
The reigning premier and minor premier was dismissed on the first ball of the 27th over for a meagre 63.
Veteran wicketkeeper Dwayne Gray was the not-out batsman.
As well the fine bowling figures achieved by Lindner and Cushion (3/12 and one catch), veteran Michael Gibson chimed in with 2/21.
If Nitschke had any qualms about his side being spooked by the run chase, they were quickly dispelled.
The man known as “Nugget” kept his pads on after an innings as a wicketkeeper and opened the innings for the Millicent Black Hats.
He despatched the third delivery of the innings from Jake Wight over deep square leg boundary.
Nitschke added a further three sixers and three fours to his fast-paced unbeaten knock of 49.
The only joy for the Rendelsham attack came the way of Wight who persuaded Jacob Todd to nick the ball into Gray’s safe hands when his score was 10.
It took the visitors just over 13 overs to reach the target.
Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association president Jase Bateman was there at the close and was three not out.
Post-match, he conducted the presentation ceremony and then joined his teammates in posing for the cameras in front of the large crowd.
The new Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association Premiers had eight teenagers among their winning 11.
Gibson took delight in sharing the victory with his team mate and son Kobe Gibson.
