PRAHRAN’S class players and Ringwood’s individual misfortune decided the Premier Cricket Twenty20 final at Russell Lucas Oval, Ringwood on Wednesday night.
Despite a brave showing from the Rams, Prahran’s trio of former Australian players David Hussey, Chris Rogers and Bryce McGain proved too strong from the home side who fell 25 runs short, being bowled out for 131 chasing the Blues' 5-156.
While Hussey (42 off 34 balls) and Rogers (64 off 42) were tipped to be the match-winners, it was McGain, granted leave from Big Bash club Adelaide Strikers to play in the match, who turned on a man-of-the-match spell as the leg-spinner took 4-24 tearing through the Rams middle-order.
After being stroked for a few boundaries in his early overs, McGain took three wickets in four balls dismissing opener David King (44 off 37 balls) and captain Ben Osborne (0) in two balls before taking dangerous batsman Jake Ford (1) with the second ball of his next over.
McGain also added the vital scalp of Rams number three Joe Loorham (19 off 10 balls) after Loorham looked in dangerous touch, hitting several boundaries soon after coming to the crease.
While the Rams were defeated they can take pride in their performance as they managed to keep Rogers and Hussey to manageable scores. The Blues would consider their total as just par on the wide expanses of the ground.
In fact the Rams were in a match-winning position at 2-95 needing 61 to win from almost as many balls with King and rising star Ian Holland (24 off 23 balls) at the crease.
Holland showed his talent on the big stage, taking 2-16 from his four overs to be the best of the Rams' bowlers.
Had one of Holland’s top-order teammates stuck around to bat out the game with him then he would have claimed man of the match honours for himself.
But McGain’s quality was too much for the Rams.
Misfortune, either at the hands of McGain or themselves, cost the Rams top-order as former Sri Lankan opener Michael Vandort (12 runs from seven balls) looked set for a massive innings before smashing a drive straight back into the hands of Blues quick Steve Seymour, while Osborne and Loorham both picked out Rogers in a catching position with full-blooded shots.
Rams fielder Daniel Coghlan also showed a clean pair of heals in the outfield taking a diving catch to dismiss Liam Murphy on the last ball of the Blues' innings.
The Rams will take a lot from the match and hopefully build on the experience while Premier Cricket supporters will be encouraged by the colourful crowd which descended on Russell Lucas Oval to watch the game despite the nippy wind and threat of rain which hung over the match.
Premier Cricket officials also praised the work of the ground staff for getting the wicket ready despite heavy rain earlier in the day, that praise was richly deserved.
Email a friend