ADDA Constructions capped off an undefeated New England Mutual Big Bash campaign with a thrilling win from the final ball of Sunday’s grand final against defending champions Moxon’s.
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They had to do it without skipper Matt Schaefer as well, with Dean Moore taking over the reigns.
ADDA went through the round games with relative ease, but the final was anything but easy and the replacement skipper even admitted he almost gave up hope late in the run chase.
“With three overs to go I didn’t think we could get there,” Moore said.
Batting first Moxon’s were restricted to 139 despite a sensational knock of 68 from Matt Baillie.
“Matt Baillie is a very good bat,” Moore said.
“I knew we had to get him early and there were a couple of dropped catches, but he was a bit too good for us.”
Adam Sweeney [2-19] and Shaun Brennan [2-22] were the main destroyers with the ball for ADDA, but there was another bowler who impressed Moore.
“Adam Sweeney was very good, but Tom Armitage had to bowl some overs in the middle with Matt Schaefer away and he was excellent,” he said.
Moore said they were confident of chasing the 140 total set, but some tight early bowling dulled expectations in the ADDA camp.
Then Todd Francis came in at number five and turned the game on its head.
“Todd batted at five to give us some acceleration in the middle overs,” Moore said.
Francis certainly gave them the acceleration they were looking for during his big-hitting knock of 45.
It seemed as though Francis would steer ADDA to victory, but he was out in the second last over.
ADDA needed someone to step up and Ben Jackson came to the fore.
Jackson smashed 16 in quick time, which included the winning two runs through covers off the final ball of the innings to trigger the celebrations for ADDA.
“There were a couple of very excited boys,” Moore said.
“We had a couple of celebratory drinks afterwards.”
Moxon’s earned the right to face ADDA in the decider earlier in the day when they smashed Sportspower by 87 runs.