WORKERS STAGS defeated Hibo Gold in a close encounter first grade match at Seiffert Oval on Saturday, December 3.
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Hibo Gold won the toss and elected to bat in fine sunny conditions but were soon in trouble when Kurt Langbein was bowled by Jim Wilson for one run and Hibo 1/3.
Hamish Copland joined Ryan Day and these two restored the situation a little until Day was caught by Josh Watling bowled Wilson for seven and the score 2/31.
Disaster struck for Hibo when Copland who had been batting impressively with neat attacking shots was run out for 20 with a bullet like throw from Watling. This brought the score to Hibo 3/35 which became 4/44 when the in form Ben Staples fell to Stags skipper Dan Cooper for four with keeper Mick Murphy taking a very sharp low catch.
Hibo then continued to lose wickets steadily with only Mik Webber showing resistance with a solid knock of 18 until he bunted one to point, off spinner Mitch Cook and Hibo was 8/69. Enter Brad Mitchel and Nathan Stewart and Hibos recovery was on the way with Mitchell in particular playing a good allround innings mixing rock solid defence with powerful attacking shots before he was bowled by Andrew Tivey for a very well made 36. He had received excellent support from Stewart who, like Mitchell, mixed defence and attack to reach 20, but was out lbw to Tivey, but Hibo had recovered sufficiently to be all out for 130.
Bowling for Stags saw Wilson finish with 2/31 Tivey 2/19 Cooper 2/16 Cook 2/27 and Connor Murrell 1/11
The Stags run chase got off to a positive start with Cooper looking for quick runs and wanting to finish the match quickly but Webber got one through his defence and bowled him for 13 which saw Stags 1/15 this became 2/15 when Brad Smith had Morphy caught behind and Stags 2/15.
This brought Watling and Jesse Cao to the crease and these two turned the match in Stags favour with intelligent batting and lifted Stags score to 3/103 when Watling was caught by Copland off Matt Scott for a very well compiled 47 featuring shots all over the ground mixed with solid defence.
At 4/112 Stags lost Cao for 44 caught Brett Lawson, bowled Mik Webber his innings was another fine effort of attractive shot making and strong defence.
The loss of these two wickets triggered a Stags collapse seeing them slump to 8/118 and with the last two batsmen at the crease managed to edge ahead in another tough match.
Bowling for Hibo saw Webber claim 3/39 Smith 2/33 Mitchell 2/29 Mitchell was named the First National Hibo Gold player of the match and Scott 1/27