IN an early contender for the best game of the Hamilton and District Cricket Association’s 2023-24 season, St Andrews has defeated Portland Colts in a thrilling showdown which came down to the penultimate ball at Henty Park on Saturday, with the Drews prevailing by three wickets.

Colts won the toss and elected to bat first, and the game was on relatively even terms with Colts able to get some starts in their top order while the Drews were able to break partnerships.

Colts skipper Luke Evans proved to be the anchor of his side’s innings, notching up a strong 69 not out to held propel Colts to a strong total of 8-173.

However, he had ample assistance down the order from the likes of Matt Payne (22) and John Grinstead (28 off 31), the latter of whom developed a 74-run partnership with Evans to keep them in a strong position at the tea break.

St Andrew’s performance in their run chase can realistically be boiled down to the efforts of their superstar batsman at the top of the order, Brendan Huf.

The three-time PF Christie Medallist produced a dazzling knock of 90 not out to bring his side to victory, scoring more than half their runs as batsmen fell around him.

Evans and Oscar Barbary were the pick of the bowlers for Colts, both claiming a pair of wickets at the top of the order to get towards the middle and lower end of the Drews’ batting line-up.

However, Huf finally found a key partnership with number nine batsman Rylan Pech, who scored 28 not out off just 21 deliveries to help see the side home.

With two overs remaining the Drews required 19 to win, and both Huf and Pech were able to come up with some clutch stroke play, with Huf hitting Payne for a boundary off the second ball of the over, before Pech produced a maximum off the final ball of the over to leave his side with five runs to win off the last over.

The pair were able to find the gaps off Evans’ bowling in the last over to rush through for singles and twos to get them over the line.

Tyrendarra too good for Pigeon Ponds

The Darras continued their strong start to the 2023-24 season with a victory over Pigeon Ponds at Tyrendarra Recreation Reserve by seven wickets with 13 overs to spare.

Ponds won the toss and elected to bat first, and they got a great start to their innings as Peter Staude (58) and Hamish McCrae (24) put on 54 for the second wicket.

However, the Darras were up to the challenge in the field and with the ball, as Mark Pitt (3-16) and Brett Litchfield (3-24) both were on song.

With Lachie Kirk, Darren Killmister and Dylan Murray all chiming in with wickets of their own, the Darras were able to bowl their opposition out for 151.

Tyrendarra were in control of their run chase from the get-go, with Kirk (29) and Sam Wilson (37) producing strong efforts at the top of the order.

Wilson and Jordi Withers (41 not out) put on a 65-run partnership for the third wicket, before Hamish Withers partnered with his brother to get the Darras home with plenty of time to spare.

Casterton chases down Tigers

Portland Tigers were on the wrong side of the ledger against Casterton District at Island Park Reserve, going down by eight wickets.

The Tigers were sent in to bat first by Casterton, and while Ian Faure (27) and Dean Brewster (14) got them off to a decent start with the bat, Casterton was able to find the mark and start to get into the Tigers’ middle order.

They bowled tight lines which meant that while the Tigers’ Llewellyn Oakley (12), Paul Procter (15), Will Oakley (20) and Nik Oakley (22) occupied the crease well, their run rate was off the pace from where they wanted it to be.

Eventually the Tigers were bowled out for 131 with two overs remaining, and while Will Oakley was able to claim an early scalp, Casterton was in control of their run chase for most of the overs, as Ben Holmes (34) along with Sullivan Gibbs (49 not out) and Ricky Killey (36 not out) were able to see them home in comfortable fashion.

Go-Ports win via forfeit

Gorae-Portland took the points from their fixture against Macarthur via forfeit, with Macarthur unable to field a side due to a lack of player availability.

College defeats Grampians

In a rematch of last year’s HDCA grand final, College was able to get the best of Grampians by four wickets at Hamilton College.

Grampians batted first, posting a score of 148 as Ty Gilmore led the way with 51, while College’s Lachie Brown finished with figures of 4-24.

Adrian Burn’s 53 was the driving force behind College’s successful run chase, while Hamish Bailey chipped in with 22.