Final over, six balls left. Panmure needed seven runs, Hawkesdale needed two wickets
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Up steps James North.
North held the Bulldogs on a tight leash, only conceding two runs and claiming a wicket in the final over to hand the Cats a thrilling five-run victory in the Grassmere Cricket Association’s A grade twenty20 final.
He was rewarded for his bowling efforts throughout the innings, claiming the man of the match award.
“I didn’t think I would be able to do it in the end,” North said.
“It was pretty nerve-racking bowling the last over.”
“But we got away with it in the end, which is what matters.”
Cats captain Lachlan Glare was confident in his decision to give North the ball for the tense final over.
“He is one of the best bowlers the club’s had in the last 20 years,” Glare said.
“You’ve always got to back you bowlers, so I had full faith in him.”
Glare knew the game would come down to the wire, and he was happy with the pressure the bowlers put on the Bulldogs.
“We got lucky in the end,” he said. “It was always going to be close, but wickets always help and we were lucky to get away with it.”
North was not the only standout for the Cats.
Daniel Roache dug the Cats out when they were four for 73, by hitting three consecutive sixes.
Murray Habel was the star to help Hawkesdale progress to the final, smashing a century off 71 balls, as it defeated Wangoom by four runs.
“They were both key to our success today,” Glare said.
“Murray was to thank for us getting over the line in the semi and getting us into the final.
“Then James and his bowling was the reason we got to win the final.”