The NDCC 4th Grade Butchers won the toss decided to have a bat with Greg Martin opening up and once again getting the innings of to a flyer.
Marto hit 29 off 19 and was well supported by young Luke Clapson who got a start but was caught out before he could really get going. A couple of wickets fell in quick succession and then Rob Potter and Dan Bond steadied the ship slightly staying out in the middle consuming some time and overs. Potter was then out for 15 and Bond soon followed with 20 runs to his name, a few more quick ones fell and the Butchers were in trouble at drinks and were 8/104 with 23 overs bowled.
At this stage Jeff Burton and Chris Ledwige were at the crease and the Butchers needed something special and the pair delivered. They put on a fabulous and gutsy 54 run partnership with Burto smashing boundaries and the Widge holding up the other end with singles all over the wagon wheel. Burto was caught in the outfield for a big hitting 47 off 47 balls.
Matty Craig came in at number 11 with a green light to go but was bowled out for 7. Ledwidge finished up on 12* but the Butchers had dodged a bullet and ended up with a great score of 173 to defend.
The Butchers took to the field confident and once again the opening pair of Dan Bond & Matty Craig got us off to a great start with their consistent line and length bowling in the first few overs with Bond striking first with some great field placements that he made bringing his fellow opening bowler Matty Craig up from fine leg into a sqaure leg position then firing one in short and the batsmen top edged it with Matty taking a great catch.
Then it was the "Sexy Beast Show" for the next 4 wickets. Matty Craig clean bowled his next 4 victims with the timber castle getting a real working over. Matt bowled beautifully swinging the ball, bowling the slower one and then getting some real quick ones to cut away from the batsmen. They were in all sorts! Fill in skipper Potter decided to bowl Matty out as he was on a roll and deserved a 5 wicket hall but it wasn't to be. Matty finished up with 4/31 off his 9 overs, a great bowling display from the "Sexy Beast".
Jeff Burton was bought into the attack with instant success getting a wicket in his first over before drinks, getting the ball to move around bowling into a stiff breeze. The Butchers were feeling confident with the Magpies middle order now back in their seats as they were 6/75 at drinks needing 100 from the last 22 overs.
Potter decided to slow things up a bit and bought himself on with Greg Martin coming on from the other end. This didn't quite go as planned as the tail started to wag hitting Potter and Martin to the boundary and beyond on several occasions in what was an expensive 3-4 overs. This put the Magpies back in the game as they got closer to the Butchers total.
Potter dragged himself out of the attack and threw Schultz Perkiss the ball and with his high lobbing hand grenades struck in his first over dismissing the Magpie batsmen that was doing all the damage for 49. This turned the game back into the Butchers favour. Balgownie were now 7/145 with one batsmen set at the crease with just 7 overs remaining and 3 wickets in hand.
Burto bowled out his last couple of overs with some great tight line and length deliveries without success, but kept the Butchers in it. Potter came back on into the breeze and got 2 more vital wickets and with 3 overs remaining Bally needed just 20 runs. Dan Bond came on from the other end and bowled his 8th over at fearsome pace with the wind at his back. This was a maiden over and the Butchers were licking their lips. Potter got the last wicket in the 43rd over and the Magpies were all out for 155.
It was a good close game with all players contributing and with the Butcher 4's looking at semi final cricket again in 2010 this win showed that they have the right stuff to get over the line.
Well done boys.
Great performances on the day for the Butchers were from:
Batting: J.Burton 47 off 47 balls, G.Martin 29 off 19 balls, D.Bond 20 off 19 balls, C.Ledwidge 12 n.o.
Bowling: Matty Craig 4/31 off 9 overs & 2 catches, Rob Potter 3/38 off 5.4 overs.
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