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IN the same unlikely fashion as Buster Douglas’ knock out of Mike Tyson in 1990, 1980’s Miracle on Ice and the New England Patriots’ win in the 2002 Superbowl, Waratahs scored a massive upset win over Wanderers on Sunday to claim the Orange District Cricket Association third grade Twenty20 title.
Although not on quite as grand a scale as those examples, Waratahs’ win was equally as unexpected considering the two sides’ contrasting records coming into the decider at Max Stewart Oval.
With a 2-2 record in the group stage Waratahs - a composition side made up of the club’s two third grade teams - limped into the final on quotient while Wanderers were untouchable, going through the preliminary stages with an unblemished record.
But thanks to a strong all-round showing from the sky blues that changed on Sunday at Max Stewart Oval.
Waratahs skipper Manu Mohan won the toss and bowled first, which looked a masterstroke after Dennis Cyriac (3-13) and Abhilash Kaithamangalathu (3-20) did the damage to restrict Wanderers to 97 - Gav Smith was the best with the bat, scoring 36.
However the sky blues were quickly reduced to 2-17 in the chase after Mohan (4) and Matt Weller (8) were sent packing early.
But Manu Sebastian (22), Cyriac (13) and Troy Eden (9) steadied the ship before Brendon Centofanti (23 not out) and Jason Bailey (9 not out) saw their side home with 2.1 overs and three wickets in hand.
The result reversed that of Saturday’s 12th round of regular season third grade action where Wanderers (4-144) trumped Waratahs Rebels (136) easily on the back of Kurt Gander’s boundary-laden 78 not out.
In third grade’s other games Orange City (3-140) took care of Kinross (139) while Waratahs CSU Vikings (6-77) accounted for CYMS Green Bears (74).
In second grade Orange City maintained their hefty lead at the top of the table with a huge win over Kinross. Shaun Churchill (67) led the Warriors to 6-173 before Kinross slumped to just 57 in reply.
CYMS (147) managed an equally as dominant win over Centrals (54).
In Centenary Cup CYMS Kellys (6-84) defeated clubmates CYMS Fahys (8-81), KWS Young Guns (9-181) took care of Waratahs (8-177) in a nail-biter and Orange City (3-84) defeated Kinross Tens (78) easily.
