The Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association T20 competition showcased exhilarating matches on Tuesday night, featuring a dramatic super over and an outstanding individual performance. The competition, now in its second round, is gaining momentum across all divisions, with a total of 24 teams participating this season.
League registrar Dean Bryden expressed his enthusiasm for the league’s growth, stating, “The standard of the competition is up there with the best in the state.” He noted the inclusion of guest players in the top division, which has contributed to the league’s quality. “I’ve been playing for nearly 30 years, and it’s amazing to see this quality,” he added.
The competition is structured into four divisions, with the top division comprising the four finalists from last season’s T20 competition, alongside the teams that placed fifth and sixth. Development teams are present in the lower grades, and several clubs from other competitions have also joined this season.
In a gripping encounter, Altona Sports triumphed over Tarneit Central in a super over. This match was particularly significant for Altona, as Tarneit had eliminated them in last year’s playoffs and has been the champion for the past two seasons. Tarneit Central set a challenging target of 163 runs but was bowled out in the 17th over. Amrit Nagra led the scoring for Tarneit with 43 runs, while Prashant Krishna claimed four wickets for Altona.
Altona’s innings was anchored by Netherlands captain Scott Edwards, who scored 60 runs. Bryden, who captains Altona Sports, emphasized their strategy leading into the crucial moments of the match. “We knew we had Scott for the super over, so it was just push it out to the last ball and push it to a super over,” he explained.
Both teams ended their innings at 163 runs, leading to the super over. In this decisive format, Tarneit managed to score 2 runs with a wicket lost, including a run out by Tom Harrison. Edwards then stepped up for Altona, scoring 20 not out in the super over, sealing a thrilling victory.
The excitement extended to other matches as well. Glen Orden continued its winning streak with a commanding performance against Truganina United. The Thunder posted a remarkable 3-262 in their innings, driven by vice-captain Jagmeet Brar, who scored an astonishing 142 runs off just 41 balls, hitting 16 sixes and nine fours. In response, Truganina managed only 104 runs, with Ravikumar Tailor delivering an impressive bowling performance, taking five wickets for just ten runs.
In another match, Williams Landing emerged victorious against Manor Lakes, accumulating 3-215 in their innings. Harneet Singh was the standout performer, scoring 122 runs off 51 balls. Manor Lakes struggled in their reply, finishing at 154 runs.
As the season progresses, the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association T20 competition continues to deliver thrilling cricket and showcases the growing talent within the league.
