Keira Oval - NDCC 2nd Grade has given themselves every chance of winning and booking a spot in next week's Two-Day Final after a thrilling fight back on Saturday. Languishing at 6/128, having once been 2/85, it took a stunning onslaught from Graeme Sismey (58*) to lift the Butchers to a place of dominance. He was ably and handily supported by the strongest of lower order - Jacob Hand (28) and Jack Daskey (10) could each hold spots in the top order and should do so in the very near future.
Earlier Mick Allen (61) struck his first half century in two seasons in what could be described as a magical two weeks for the skipper - the arrival of his first son just last week was followed up by this knock that earned a wry grin as he left the park with the Butchers in good order. Unfortunately Ean Martin (23) and Rhys Marsh (23) could not convert promising starts and when Michael Doig and Toby English continued their wretched run of form the Butchers were staring down a sub-170 score.
The 58-run partnership between Sismey and Hand was exactly what was needed. Hand was patient in his 76 ball stay, content to push the gaps and farm the strike towards his aggressive partner. Aggressive always, the Butcher faithful were fully treated when Sismey flipped the switch all the way on. In the space of one over he turned opening bowler Butler's excellent figures into merely decent, a mammoth straight six that hung for ages was followed by two boundaries. Not content he charged into Dobinson with the trees at midwicket taking his fancy this occasion.
Mighty semi-final knocks by veterans Allen and Sismey and if the Butchers bowl well in the morning might just get to the big one.
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