Hibo Green won the toss and sent in the Coolavin Young Guns at Wexted Oval for the minor semi final last Saturday. Hibo struck early, but it only allowed Jake Backhouse his first opportunity to leave his mark on the match as he attacked the bowling.
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With Jack Goodwin supporting his skipper, Hibo changed up their attack but were unable to place any pressure on the batting as Coolavin made their way to drinks at 1/120. A century for Backhouse looked likely but Francis McAlister tempted him too much and he was caught at mid off for 86 after taking 14 off the over.
Hibo’s spirits lifted with another wicket in the over but Coolavin was 3/145. A brief cameo by Sam Woodberry was ended by Brodie Walker. Inspired, Kyle Wilcox to pick up two more quick wickets.
Jack Goodwin (106) upped the ante to reach his century with a towering six but was kicking himself when he dragged a ball to mid-on after the drinks break. As Lachlan Tozer (33*) opened his shoulders, Wilcox ripped through the tail and brought Coolavin’s innings to a close for 267. After a tough day and season Hibo players hammed it up for their supporters by focusing on the positive of Wilcox’s bowling figures of 5/53.
Hibo went into bat to see off the remaining 25 overs of day one. Luke Davis had some big shouts early on but it was the skipper who wasn’t moving the ball quite as much, who got the nod from the umpire to remove Rory Heffernan and Nathan Chambers.
Wilcox quickly evaluated that defence was not going to work, so looked to punish the bad balls but soon perished. Coolavin were on top with 13 overs remaining and Hibo was wobbling at 3/30. Michael McAlister and opener Rob Ings’ held on to stumps with Hibo at 3/54.
Hibo started day two with the mantra “Just keep Batting” but Liam Jones injured his knee trying to take a catch and play was suspended for 30 minutes for medical treatment. Shortly after play resumed, Backhouse found the inside edge off McAlister for 23 and Tom Condylios caught the edge off Ings (23) for a sharp catch in the slips by Jack Goodwin.
Some entertaining batting followed as Mick Regterschot survived not one but three yorkers and Andrew Martin’s outfield shots, pull up short twice. Backhouse cleaned up Hibo’s tail to finish with 6/30 and Hibo was all out for 101 in 39 overs. Congratulations to Coolavin Young Guns who are through to the final winning by 166 runs.
A shout out to young Josh Lumsdon, who volunteered to boost Hibo’s numbers this season and kept his spirits up, despite having to cover a lot of ground in the field this match. Also 14-year-old Angus Regterschot, who put on the pads to face first grade bowlers in his first season of cricket.
