GARRY Seghal almost blasted an amazing farewell present for his West Tamworth teammates against Bective-East in their Tamworth first grade one-day match at Chaffey Park on Saturday afternoon.
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The big restaurateur smashed an unbeaten 38 off 19 balls to almost swing West to a dramatic win over the Bulls.
He and Daniel Hartley (24no) put on 52 in four or five overs of mayhem chasing Bective’s 6-191.
The pair came together at 9-134 after Hartley and skipper Adam Penman (21) had added 21 for the ninth wicket.
Bective appeared to be rolling to a good win when Cal Rowe and skipper Nick Pearson opted for the tall Englishman to “throw up” a few juicy spinners instead of Rowe’s medium-pacers.
Seghal relished the opportunity and promptly smashed Rowe for three successive sixes.
The over cost Rowe and Bective 25, leaving West needing 30 off the final three overs for an improbable and unlikely win.
15 came off the next two overs, leaving 15 runs off the final over which was to be bowled by James Haling, who was bowling his first over of what had developed into a rousing game.
A couple of runs came off his first two balls but the third ball disappeared over the mid wicket boundary from Hartley’s bat.
Seven off three!
Suddenly it was all there for West to steal.
Hartley could only hit a single off the fourth ball.
A six to win.
Haling bowled up a perfect yorker for a dot ball.
Still six to win but Seghal’s bashing brilliance had vanished and Matty Everett gloved a delivery that had missed Seghal’s flashing bat.
Bective walked off thinking how they could have so easily lost an unloseable game.
“It was my fault,” Pearson said.
“I had no idea that would happen. I told Cal to throw a couple up.
“Unfortunately for us they sailed over the boundary. I didn’t realise they were so close. I should have been paying better attention.”
Earlier in the day, West struck early to have Bective 2-18 before Rowe (35) and Matt Everett (23) put on 45 for the third wicket.
Everett and skipper Pearson then put on 38 before Pearson and James Haling blasted a 75-run fifth wicket partnership in quick time.
Pearson slammed nine fours and a six in his 47-ball 69 while Haling struck three fours in his 23-ball 29.
Garry Seghal was best of the West bowlers, taking 2-23 from his seven overs to place Bective in early trouble.
West started its run chase well too, with openers Isaac Kensell (23) and Mark madden (28) putting on a 48-run opening stand.
After Nathan Lambley (1-20) removed Kensell, Adam Jones joined in and captured 5-19 from his seven overs.
Ted Alderton’s left-armers also realised 2-31 as well as West slipped to 8-113 and seemingly well out of contention.
Then it warmed up, with Seghal and Hartley almost snaring a wonderful late result.
Penman said it was fun to watch.
“It was Gaz’s last game for us too,” Penman said.
“He’s sold his Indian restaurant and leaving. It was great having Dan back for the weekend too.”
Now stationed at St George, Hartley, a police constable, almost made his return a winning one.
“It was a good result for us,” Penman said of the narrow loss. “We’ve still got some improvement and have a few things to work on.”
