Thank god for leaf blowers!

Despite a rainy lead up to the match on Saturday 25 November nothing was going to stop a day’s play in Tooraweenah, with players sighted craftily drying off a damp wicket with leaf blowers in the lead up to the game.

With the pitch all sorted and ready for play the toss commenced, with Gidgee winning and electing to bowl.

They made light work of Tooraweenah’s top order, sending the openers Lachlan and Mark Ferguson packing for six runs apiece.

Luke Harrison and Curtis O’Connor didn’t fare much better, putting on two runs and six runs respectively.

Paul Lambell stuck around but didn’t put many runs on the board, departing for nine.

After that Jon Kilby came out providing a welcome boost to the Tooraweenah run total, putting on 42 runs before getting too greedy and swinging at a line and length ball from Justin Fernando which crashed into the stumps.

David Neeves (2), Bevan Peart (9), Darcy Neeves (9), Clint Walker (6*), and James Best (0) did their part but couldn’t make the tail wag, and after 35.4 overs Tooraweenah were all out for 112.

Justin Fernando was the pick of the Gidgee bowlers notching up four wickets for 24 runs off 6.4 overs.

Tyne Chapman, Jake Fernando, and Blake Chapman all grabbed two wickets each.

Fifteen extra runs (5 wides, 2 no balls, 1 leg bye, 7 byes) were added to the Tooraweenah total as well.

After a quick break Gidgee sent out their opening pair Mark Stewart and Rob Heinrich to get the innings underway.

Both started well and wore a few overs of pressure before Rob Heinrich was caught behind off Paul Lambell for nought.

Mark Stewart put on another solid performance after last week’s 87 run effort, putting on a quickfire 36 before being caught behind.

Jacob Savage and Blake Chapman put on the bulk of the runs and put together a strong partnership, helped along by the Gidgee crowd cheering on their successes as well as the errors of the fielding side.

Jacob Savage got caught out after a patient and well-earned 22, sending in Jake Fernando.

Jake and Blake looked sure to finish off the game and put another win in the column. However, with Blake caught out on 29, Liam Mulhall was sent in.

The run total was met balls later with Jake Fernando (17*) and Liam (2*) walking back to the stands as winners.

Gidgee ended up four wickets down for 115 runs after 29.1 overs.