OMK bowlers set up T20 triumph over Nerrena

OUTTRIM Moyarra Kongwak took charge of its Australia Day T20 contest against Nerrena, winning the Grand Final of the midweek competition by seven wickets with three overs to spare after sending the Redcaps in.

Pleasant conditions in the high twenties were ideal for spectators who relaxed on the hill at Leongatha’s Scorpion Park, Digger Ethan Lamers helping guide his side to victory with a knock of 46 off just 33 balls, having earlier conceded less than a run a ball from his three overs.

He and opening partner Ryan Williams (20) helped ensure OMK capitalised on the sterling work of its bowlers who never allowed Nerrena to get a foothold in the match, making breakthroughs and permitting the Redcaps few big hits on the way to just 6/115.

Seamers Ryan Williams and Peter Dell each captured a couple of wickets for the Diggers for just 21 and 14 runs respectively off their four-over allotments.

OMK players were on their game throughout the Nerrena innings, Paul Fermanis’ accurate throw accounting for Hayden Funnell as the Redcaps tried to sneak a two during the last over.
Tadgh Gannon worked hard with the willow to give the Nerrena bowlers something to defend, finishing with a strike rate of 100 in his unbeaten 32, a well-timed leg glance boundary one of his highlights and another nicely struck four finishing the Redcaps’ innings in style.

Opener Jack Curtis was also a solid contributor with the bat for the beaten team, managing 28 off 24 balls.

While OMK was coasting in pursuit of its modest target, the loss of the well-established Ethan Lamers, who was caught and bowled by Tim Wightman, was quickly followed by the departure of Fermanis (14) who skyed a loose delivery from Mitch Clark, the catch snavelled by Tadgh Gannon.

However, Digger coach, skipper and keeper Koby Brann and Jake Cochrane batted with composure, ensuring the call of Nerrena supporters on the hill for an OMK collapse didn’t come to fruition.

A lovely off drive to the boundary was one of Brann’s impressive moments in his tidy unbeaten 18 off just 11 balls, Cochrane finishing on 9 not out.

Wightman led the Nerrena bowling figures with 1/21 off his four overs, Archie Gannon also doing well with 1/19 from three overs, while Clark captured 1/31 off his maximum allotment.

LDCA president John Schelling presented OMK with its shield.

While there is always some conjecture as to whether the midweek competition leads to just a little too much cricket, it would have been a shame to waste such a fine afternoon and the Diggers certainly capped off Australia Day in style.

Anyway, is there such a thing as too much cricket?

Earlier in the day, Nerrena accounted for Nyora at Scorpion Park, while OMK got the better of Korumburra at Inverloch’s Thompson Reserve.