Take a bow, Ben McAlpine.
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Stu Middleton, you take one too.
Just for good measure, you can as well Andrew Rutledge.
The trio all produced remarkable performances in Saturday’s Orange District Cricket Association Second Twenty20 finals day, which McAlpine’s Gladstone side ended up winning in a slightly anti-climactic final at Moulder Park.
McAlpine’s dig in that game was anything but, he blasted 78 not out from just 27 balls to get his side over the line with nine wickets and 14 overs in hand, it was anti-climatic considering it came after Cavaliers’ and Orange City’s thrilling semi-final, which was decided via a super over.
While Gladstone took care of Waratahs CSU comfortably at Anzac Park to qualify for the decider, Cavaliers and Orange City fought tooth and nail at Moulder, the game ending in a tie before the Warriors prevailed in a super over.
After being sent in by Orange City skipper Jamie Stedman, Cavaliers piled on a mammoth total of 7-182, inspired by Middleton’s swashbuckling knock of 129.
He entered the fray at No.4 in the fifth over and proceeded to bludgeon 14 sixes and five fours on his way past triple figures. His knock came from just 51 balls, and his first 50 came from 22 of them.
But, incredibly, it wasn’t enough.
After being 1-16 and then 2-36 in the chase, Troy O’Keeffe (39 from 35), Darren Barrett (35 from 19) and Ben McIntosh (18 from 10) pushed the score to 114 in the 14th over.
Then Rutledge, who had taken 2-32 earlier, entered the clash.
With his side needing 68 from 36 balls to win, Rutledge pummelled 45 not out from 21 balls to all but get his side over the line.
The Warriors needed a single from the final ball to win, but O’Keeffe was run out pushing for it.
Rutledge was again Orange City’s hero in the super over.
Barrett and McIntosh could only manage nine from their six balls, but Rutledge’s clincal showing restricted Cavaliers to five and he bowled Dave Currall with the final ball to seal the incredible win.
The Warriors played their grand final a game early though, that much was clear once they’d been rolled for 93 in the grand final after being sent in by the Gladstone.
Kyran Bubb (4-19) was the main destroyer for the Gladstone while Stedman (21) and Rutledge (18) were the only ones to really trouble the scorers.
In reply, McAlpine wasted no time.
He reached his half-century from just 20 balls to eclipse Middleton’s mark by two balls and only needed another five to reach 78, his last scoring shot was a gigantic six which sealed the win for his team.
He blasted four other maximums and nine fours as well, equating to 66 of his runs.