THE TWELFTH MAN
HDCA – C Grade
TAHARA has defeated minor premiers Macarthur for the second time this summer in round 17 of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association C Grade competition at Tahara Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Both teams had already secured a finals spot but the psychological advantage for the winner of the game is going to weigh heavily on the loser should they meet again come the grand final.
Macarthur won the toss and elected to bat first on a venue that rewards the batsmen who can defeat the infield by speeding the ball to the fence on a dry parched outfield.
The top four in the Demons batting order all had starts with Matt Timms (50), Cody Herring (28), Bingham Jarrett (39), and Matt Fry (37) ensured the visitors posted a competitive target of 6-194 as Fletcher Wheeler (2-28) took the bowling honours for the Blue Caps.
The early wickets of Wheeler (seven) and Jayden Dark (13) to Timms gave the Demons a huge advantage, but young batsmen Jack Rhook (88) and Liam Tonissen (42) added 125 for the third wicket to wrest the game back in the home side’s favour.
Tahara continued to score quickly and the team missed a bonus point by only three balls as they hunted down the target in 32.3 overs for the loss of only four wickets to record its second defeat of Macarthur this season.
The Blues Caps will play College at JLC Young Oval, Myrniong next Saturday with the winner gaining a spot in the grand final the following weekend.
