SHAWN Mepham provided plenty of fireworks as the McDonald’s Tamworth Premier League finally got underway last night.
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After two washouts, the third attempt saw McDonald’s and Steggles pick up contrasting wins.
At Dick Edwards Oval, Steggles limped over the line in the final over against Halpins Plumbing thanks to an unbeaten 41 from skipper Ben Middlebrook.
Chasing 96, Steggles were two down after the first over but recovered to look to have the chase in hand at 3-29 after five.
But from there they disintegrated to 6-45 at the halfway point.
Middlebrook and Brad Walters – who had a excellent allround game, nabbing 3-11 and following up with a valuable 22 – got them back on track and down to a run a ball with three overs to go.
That then became nine off two after Walters smacked a six off the fourth ball.
He then got them level with seven balls to go. It was a dot ball forcing the game into what eventuated to be an eventful final over.
Lachie Davidson’s first ball just rolled past the stumps. His next ball was a dot, which he followed with one that got through Walters’ defences.
They got the winning run the next ball, somewhat fortuitously, with Halpins missing the chance to run Brad Redshaw out.
Davidson was outstanding, finishing with 4-16, while Harrison Kelly chimed in with 2-11.
Earlier, Mitch Holt’s 30 (off 42) and Nick Pearson’s run-a-ball 20 were the highlights of Halpin’s innings.
Next door, Mepham smacked an unbeaten 100 as McDonald’s posted 3-184.
He dispatched nine fours and six sixes in his knock, and shared 40-plus run partnerships with Chaise Crough (31), Dave Mudaliar (11) and Jye Paterson (20).
TPW Tigers were then never really in the hunt but scrambled their way to 7-149 thanks largely to a 65-run stand between Mackenzie Morrison (40) and Jake Everett (34).