IT was a day La Salle Hornets would rather forget when they saved their worst batting display of the year for the Lithgow Cricket Association’s grand final.
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A match winning performance by Lidsdale’s Dallas Tilley (a former Stingers player), saw him star, both with the bat and ball, and he was the difference with Tilley enjoying a great day.
Lidsdale tore through their batting line-up with the Stingers only managing 57.
Warren Stevens (16) and Tod Walsh (10) were the only batsman making it into double figures with five of their batsmen scoring ducks.
Dallas Tilley was the Lidsdale’s best with the ball taking 4-4 off his five overs.
Darren Lambert took 2-14 off eight, Josh Howarth 2-10 off five and Chris Redding 1-11 off six.
Usually the small total of 57 would be a snack for the star studded Lidsdale batting line-up, but it was a real struggle and they limped over the line at 7-58. Lidsdale lost wickets at 9, 11, 22, 22, 27, 47 and 52.
Ryan Gurney opened with 15, then Lidsdale lost a couple of quick wickets and only a match winning innings of 22 not out by Dallas Tilley saw them home.
Veteran Stinger Anthony Brown tried his heart out trying to defend the small total taking 5-24 off his eight overs, but it was all in vain.
Tod Walsh was the other wicket taker with 2-13 off six overs.
It was a dramatic grand final with the Lidsdale contingent breathing a sigh of relief when they finally got the runs needed to give them their second grand final win in three years.
It was a fitting win for Lidsdale who only suffered one defeat all season and were by far the best side.
La Salle Hornets tried hard right to the last ball and their side consisted of Todd Costello, Mark Dicker, Tod Walsh, Warren Stevens, Scott Bradford, Dave Kay, Brendan Hall, Anthony Brown, Aaron Manton, Jordan Smith and Mitch Reed.
The only down side of the grand final was the state of the ground with council deciding to top dress the Lithgow Showground during the week with the outfield making fielding difficult with the loose dirt.
The smell of ‘blood and bone’ spread over the field was also not the nicest thing for both the players and supporters.
Lidsdale captain Brendan Roach said:
“It was a relief to get home for a win in the end.
“Sometimes, small totals are the hardest to get, it is a different mind set.
“Anyway, a win is a win and it is a good feeling, especially after being beat in last year’s grand final.
“It has been a good year for the boys and this is the icing on the cake.”
A full report and photos from the second and third grade is featured on page 26.