It is now or never as the 2021/22 Dycer Constructions Big Bash enters its final night of minor-round action.
Tonight, the final three games of the season will take place and all eyes will be on Pool B with the second postseason ticket yet to be claimed.
Rivals East Gambier and North Sportsman’s are fighting tooth and nail to stay alive, but only one will be at Frew Park on finals day in the opening weekend of February.
Little separates the pair on the ladder with mirroring win-loss records, while a deeper dive into the ladder shows just how evenly matched they are.
Both teams have taken 15 wickets each, but the Bulldogs have been the more economical side conceding seven fewer runs and losing two fewer wickets.
However, the Tigers’ have struck 176 runs off the bat compared to East’s 167 and hold the bragging rights after winning the face off at Marist Park in convincing fashion.
Despite losing to North and being knocked over for 91 in the process, the Bulldogs actually hold the high ground in second spot for now.
All these stats suggest both deserve to enter the next phase of the tournament, but it will all hinge on their performances tonight.
Although the sides face a now or never situation, they will not be lining up against each other and must get the job done against contrastingly different opponents.
The fixture shuffle has fallen heavily in North’s favour as it prepares to face the winless Gambier Central, while East braces itself to overcome an undefeated West Gambier.
Justin DeJong has enjoyed a serene start to his captaincy career with everything but the toss going his way.
In each game DeJong has been on the wrong end of a coin flip, but has had the last laugh with his bowlers firing on all cylinders.
Amazingly no team has cracked triple figures against the Roos attack which hunts as a pack.
Sam Willis has taken the new ball and been strong with his most expensive four-over spell being 3/10.
The likes of Richard Crute and Kyal Chapman are always at the batter and have a knack of taking wickets.
Shane and Justin DeJong can also cause headaches, while Josh Cornolo has only bowled two overs, but has a wicket in each of them.
Skipper DeJong has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal and can throw the ball to any one of these men to make something happen.
East is yet to fire with the bat in this competition, but captain Travis Younghusband believes it is a matter of when and overcoming the top team in a must-win contest would be the perfect occasion.
The Bulldogs were completely outplayed by the Tigers in the opening round before bouncing back nicely chasing a meagre 75 with ease in round 2.
Kev Thomson was promoted to the top of the order in that fixture against Central and flourished scoring an unbeaten 45.
Steven Cameron, Dion Stratford, Emerson Marks, Alex Hentschke and Younghusband have all gone big in the past against the white ball and can win games off their own blade.
The key area East will look to exploit is when it has the Kookaburra in its hands because the Roos have not been tested at the crease yet and have not hit a ball in anger for over a month.
Chasing small totals, the likes of Jake Blackwell, Niall Easterbrook, Chapman and Connor Prior have not been required to shift up the gears.
It will not be an easy task against the Bulldogs bowlers who possess speedy options such as Hentschke and Liam Turley to spinners Marks and Thomson.
With significant prizes such as an undefeated campaign or simply survival, the Scott Park fixture is one not to miss.
The Tigers should have a much easier time of things facing the bright orange caps of Gambier Central.
Central has endured a daunting return to the T20 competition receiving significant touch ups in both games, while the team collected five ducks in the opening match, the same amount of batters to reach double figures in the competition.
With North currently sitting behind East on the ladder, it has to aim to win in the most emphatic way possible to collect a large enough net run rate boost to fly into finals in case the sides finish level on points.
A lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of attacking allrounders Nick McInerney, Tom Robertson and captain Declan Kenny.
The result of the third and final fixture at Blue Lake Sports Park may not carry any significance towards the road ahead, but a significant amount of pride is on the line.
South Gambier and Millicent are yet to win a game in the 2021/22 T20 season and will be desperate to have at least one feather in their caps.
The Demons usually excel in the shortest format, but have battled to find their best across all formats this summer.
Cam Jorgensen’s men took the fight up to reigning champs Penola in round 1, but all the positives came crashing down in a disappointing batting collapse against Mil Lel.
The team boasts many names who have won many T20 trophies such as Jorgensen, Dan Loupos and Robert Drenthen and they would not want to die wondering.
On another day Millicent could be cruising into this encounter with two wins and a finals berth already sealed, but luck has not been with the team in a tale of what could have been.
A seesawing contest against Mil Lel went down to the final over, while an even closer contest against Penola was decided with a six off the last ball.
Millicent was the unlucky team on both occasions and will give everything to secure a victory and prove a point with individuals such as Jase Bateman, Jacob Carger and Jake Wight the dangermen.
