AFTER 12 games and three rounds full of action, the winner of the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association Big Bash Twenty20 Cup will be decided this Sunday at Marist Park.
Cricket fans will be treated to non-stop action with a triple-header of two semi-finals and a final to be played on the day which promises to be full of entertainment.
The four teams left standing after the three minor rounds are North Sportsman’s, South Gambier, West Gambier and Penola.
These teams will contest a semi-final each in the morning before the triumphant sides will battle in the afternoon final to decide who raises the trophy.
The opening match of the day will be a heavyweight clash between title favourites North and reigning champions South.
If the Demons are to defend their title, they will have to perform at their best to overcome a Tigers side who have dominated the competition and are the only undefeated team in the tournament so far.
The Tigers’ depth with both bat and ball allows them to play with a fearless and aggressive attitude which is ideal to win games in cricket’s shortest format.
With the willow, their opening pair of Jake Schutz and Matt McInerney have torn all opposing bowlers to shreds with their expansive stroke-play which has produced some incredible statistics this season.
The duo’s individual competition averages both exceed triple-figures and McInerney has himself scored a ton against East, while Schutz has been more consistent, raising his bat for two half-centuries.
Their lowest opening partnership has been 50 which means Nick McInerney, Kieran Ashby and rest of the batting order can play with freedom to ensure no total is out of reach of the powerful Tigers line-up.
North has been equally as impressive with the ball with only one team reaching triple figures against the Tigers attack.
Declan Kenny and Kayne Badman have been the main strike weapons and with back up from red ball specialists Tim Young and Nick McInerney, scoring a large enough total to challenge the Tigers unit will be difficult.
However, the Demons will be no pushover in the semi-final as they have previously defeated North in last season’s final and will hope to produce a similar upset performance.
South’s bowling attack has been in fine form this season with Dylan Clough, Bryce Whicker and David Vine all picking up four-wicket hauls during the season.
But they have experienced contrasting fortunes after failing to defend 152 against Penola before tearing through Millicent for just 52 runs the following game.
There have been flashes of brilliance in the batting order too, with eye catching performances from Vine (98), Robert Drenthen (78) and Luke Zadow (87).
If the Demons can turn these individual efforts into a complete performance and dismiss Schutz and McInerney early they could go back-to-back, but it will not be easy.
In the second semi-final, defending Barber Shield champions Penola will face West Gambier.
The Eagles are the favourites to progress into the final, but the Roos’ could spring a surprise.
After a heavy loss to North, West recovered with two big wins to finish the minor rounds in strong form.
The Roos’ strength lies with the ball where their bowling attack dismissed both East Gambier and Glencoe for small totals, where young guns Sam Willis and Josh Cornollo did the most damage.
However, their major weakness is their batting where they have struggled against North – when only Jake Blackwell could reach double figures – and if not for a crucial 33 from Willis, West may not have chased down the Bulldogs small total of 92.
The West batsmen will have to raise their game to fight against the Eagles who will be keen to play some cricket after their campaign was hampered due to unplayable weather conditions.
Despite only playing two games, the Eagles have shown what they are capable of with two ominous wins.
A clean 77 from Jack Mullan saw Penola ease to a tricky target of 152 set by South, while David Somerfield and Jack Schulz also raised their bats for half centuries at home verses Millicent.
Although they were undefeated from their completed games this season, the Eagles have not been as threatening with the ball as they have with the bat.
Joshua Doyle, Michael Waters and Mullan are the only Penola bowlers who have captured multiple wickets in an innings, but on paper, the Eagles have the stronger side and should ease to a comfortable win to build some form ahead of the final.
However the winner of this semi-final will have a disadvantage in the decider as they are forced to play back-to-back matches and will have little rest compared to the winner of the first semi-final, which could play a significant role in the outcome of the tournament.
North Sportsman’s has been the hunted all competition and a special performance will be required to stop the Tigers from lifting the cup, but Twenty20 cricket is an unpredictable game, so anything could happen.
