MACARTHUR continued its stunning short-format form, defeating Casterton District in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association T20 final at Kennedy Oval on Thursday.

It was the second straight year the Demons played the final and won the toss both times, taking a different approach this time around.

They won the toss and batted first, with the first ball of the innings called a wide in a somewhat anti-climactic moment from Maroons’ Logan Gibbs.

Nevertheless, Macarthur set about scoring, with Jeremy Sheehan offering up a sharp chance at mid off from the first ball he faced but survived and he and Michael Brilley notched up 16 runs from the first two overs, with just one boundary recorded; until Brilley his two boundaries in the next over and the scoring rate only grew from there.

Carey Megaw’s introduction saw him get Sheehan for 12, with Ollie Wortley hitting 11 from seven before returning to the pavilion.

Brilley then combined with in-form batsman, Kyle Smitten, and the pair piled on the runs to drive the run rate up before Jedd Rhook finally got the breakthrough to have Brilley out for 84.

Smitten continued to hit boundaries, reaching 83-not-out, as the Demons finished their 20 overs at 5-240.

Rick Killey was the Maroons’ only multiple wicket-taker with two.

Casterton District batsmen knew they had to go from the start to even get close to the total, and early wickets proved costly.

Ben Holmes and Killey each managed six, while Justin Carlin was dismissed without scoring, as the pressure continued to build.

Maroons skipper, Kaden Humphries, tried to lead from the front, combining with Megaw (19) and Connor Kelly (22) through the middle overs.

When Humphries finally fell to Charlie Summers for 51 from 23 balls, it was looking like game over.

With Jacob Edwards (21) the only other Maroons batsman to get above 20, the Maroons were eventually bowled out for 151 on the first ball of the 18th over.

Summers and Adam Fry each claimed three wickets, while Smitten picked up two and was named Man of the Match.

Jack Wortley stepped into the captaincy role for the Demons and said the way the team executed throughout the T20 games was pleasing.

“There are a few lads that are in good form, so it is good they’re executing and batting the full 20 (overs) and not losing many wickets probably helps,” he said.

“We probably learnt out lesson last year bowling first, runs on the board was effective.”

The Demons had smashed 216 and 226 in their previous two T20s, with Thursday’s score the highest team total since 2018.

The big total offered bowlers some comfort, bowling on such a small ground.

“We only used five bowlers in the end, they were able to execute and bowl to their fields,” Wortley said.

The Demons will now progress through to the Sungold Cup in Warrnambool next month, where they will face the winners of other T20s across local associations.

Wortley is expected to retain the captaincy for those games and said he had enjoyed leading the team in the shortest format.

“Unreal experience, very grateful for the experience, I loved doing it and it is very rewarding,” he said.

“We will go in with a nothing to lose attitude (in Warrnambool), we will give it a red hot crack and see how we go.”