Redbacks cruise to Top End victory
The West End Redbacks today claimed a comprehensive eight wicket win over the DEC Bushrangers in the first Top End Twenty20 challenge match at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
The West End Redbacks today claimed a comprehensive eight wicket win over the DEC Bushrangers in the first Top End Twenty20 challenge match at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
In hot and muggy conditions, the Redbacks won the toss with Captain Michael Klinger electing to bowl on an undulant wicket.
Brad Hodge and Rob Quiney opened the batting for the Vics and started well considering speedster Shaun Tait had the new ball; however Tait only bowled one over before leaving the ground with what appeared to be an elbow injury.
The change of bowlers did pay off for the Redbacks with Jake Haberfield taking the important wicket of Hodge for 19.
Quiney and Matthew Wade started a steady partnership taking the Vics to 1/56 before the loss of Wade on 19 signalled a batting collapse for the Bushrangers, who then went onto completely stall at 6/89 in the 15th over.
Some last minute hitting from Glenn Maxwell (15) and Clinton McKay (8) saw the Bushrangers post a reasonable total of 8/121 at the end of the 20 overs with Quiney top scoring with 28.
Chasing 122 for the win, South Australian openers Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris took to the pitch with only runs on their mind and paceman McKay and Twenty20 specialist Dirk Nannes proved to be no match for them.
The 5th and 6th overs of the second innings marked the return of two integral quicks to the Victorian line up being Shane Harwood from a major shoulder injury and Peter Siddle after seven months on the sidelines with stress fractures in his back.
Siddle's charge and bustling pace soon paid off to the excitement of the crowd, taking the Bushrangers first wicket of the day, removing the dangerous Harris. A John Hastings' wicket soon followed but this was the end of the Bushrangers' luck for the rest of the day.
Klinger, who finished the match on 69* helped the Redbacks cruise to their target, claiming revenge on the Victorians and keeping intact their formable record in Darwin.
Tomorrow, the DEC Bushrangers will play the Queensland Bulls at 10.30am at TIO Stadium.
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