Steggles finally had their feathers ruffled on Friday night with TPW roaring to a final over seven wicket win after Sportspower had chased for a five wicket win as the McDonald’s Tamworth Twenty20 lit up No.1 Oval.
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For the first time this season the two games were played back to back and under lights at No 1 Oval, as Sportspower kept their grand final ambitions alive after restricting McDonalds to 8-106.
Maccas skipper Dave Mudaliar top-scored with 33, but didn’t have a lot of support with Brock Morley (15), Dan Collinson (14), and Jye Paterson (11) the only other batsmen to make double figures.
Dan Lawrence (2-17) was the only multiple wicket taker with Brock Ridgewell, Josh Dawson, Jake Philp and Brendan Rixon all chiming in with one.
Sportspower then had an early stumble before skipper Brendan Rixon guided them home with 40 not out, assisted by a handy 21 from AJ Pretorius.
“We bowled pretty well to restrict them to 106,” Rixon said. I thought 130-140 would be competitive so I was very happy with that and then everyone chipped in with the bat.”
Steggles then made 9-137 batting first in the next match.
Harrison Kelly (33 off 26) and Mitch Swain (12 off 26) got them off to a bright start but the innings dovetailed with the introduction of Jack Richards.
The spinner claimed 5-18 as Steggles slumped from 0-55 to 5-80.
The end of his four overs brought some relief for the competition leaders, and on the back of a swift 40 from skipper Ben Middlebrook they limped through their 20 overs.
Cooper Barnes, Tim Unwin and Michael Rixon also struck for the Tigers, who then overcame losing skipper Adam Jones the first ball of the innings to chase down the runs with four balls to spare.
Rixon (78no) and Mackenzie Morison (32no) steered them to victory with an unbroken 79-run partnership after Richards had chipped in with 12 in a 35-run stand with Rixon.
“It was a really good win,” Jones said.
Richards led the way continuing his great form with the ball.
“He’s been the bowler of the tournament,” he said.
“It was turning a bit but he just bowled in good areas and bowled to the field.”
“Michael Rixon then batted absolutely outstandingly. He was 78 not out and basically got us home.”
The opener faced just 59 balls and cracked six fours and two sixes in his knock, and while ever he was out there Jones felt they had the run chase under control.
The win pushes them to second and sets up a final round match against TPW to determine which will meet Steggles in the final.
