Keira Oval - NDCC 2nd Grade were unable to defend Saturday's efforts against the #1 seed Keira on Sunday. Having scored 234 thanks largely to Mick Allen's 61 and Graeme Sismey's 58*, Keira chased the score down steadfastly for the loss of 4 wickets.
Early wickets were vital and though Keira would take all of 86 overs to complete their chase, a couple of tough half chances early on would have been welcomed by the Butchers. The first wicket didn't fall until the score was 47 and the second 119 as Northern Districts just weren't able to penetrate when they needed. Keira applied themselves worthily but to be fair the Butchers couldn't buy a break early on as airily mistimed shots landed safely on a number of occasions.
Ironically it was a lucky break that finally went the Butchers way when a poor return throw from Luke Coleman at deep point missed everyone and found it's way to sub-fielder Neil Ryan at deep square leg. Danger man Dunn (43) had completed his second run and was well beyond the crease when the batsmen chanced stealing the third run on offer. Ryan's throw was a bullet and suddenly the overthrow was a wicket as Hand completed the run out.
With an extra spring in their step, Jackson Stewart was given a chance and rewarded his captain by strangling the opener down the leg side for a well made 60. Immediately after he pegged back the off-stump of the #4 to have Keira wavering at 4/137.
The Butchers were keen on one more wicket to really shake things up but to Keira's credit they held on and didn't lose another wicket. Despite Wests' players who were now gathered and jeering from the sidelines at the slow run-rate, Keira stuck to their game and used all their allotted time to complete their victory. Perhaps Keira did pay a little attention to external input as they went on to thrash Wests in the final - 36 runs separating an outright victory by 10 wickets. It might be fair to say the true 1 v 2 occured on this Semi Final weekend when two innings took 173 overs to find a winner.
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