Brisbane-based music franchise Um, Yep have claimed the RapidClean New England Twenty20 trophy in only their first year of competition. Um, Yep took on Sportspower who headed into the final undefeated.
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Batting first, Um, Yep finished their innings at 6-99.
The opening few overs for Sportspower looked promising but then, disaster struck.
The previously unbeaten team collapsed with the bat as Um, Yep finished them off for 51, a distant 49 runs off their target, handing the new franchise the title of Twenty20 champions.
The opening game of the night was a battle for third and fourth between Rossbuild and Ray White Rural-Cressbrook Merino, a team made up of players who hadn’t stepped on to the field for at least five years and hadn’t secured a win from their opening three games. Rossbuild batted first to put 89 runs on the board before the team of previously retired cricketers stepped up to bat.
Ray White-Cressbrook’s innings hit an early snag with Shaun Brennan departing for a duck before Matt Foster stepped up to the crease.
Foster went berserk, hitting four fours and five sixers on his way to 47 not out to help his side land an easy win with six overs to spare.
Former Australian Country representative and Ray White- Cressbrook bowler Andrew Starr said it had been a while since most of his team had played cricket but they found their feet again.
“Back playing after anywhere between five and 10 years for a lot of us, the body has certainly let a few of us down but with a little bit of training and a few games under our belts I think we improved and a few boys found some skills that were a bit rusty for the first couple of games and pulled together [on Friday night],” he said.
“I think whether you are in your 40s or 50s, no one wanted to get the wooden spoon so that was our motivation.”
While a lot of the Ray White-Cressbrook players hadn’t played in the Twenty20 competition before, Starr said they had a blast.
“I think the Twenty20 is a fantastic concept for Armidale Cricket and it has been well supported by the community, there has been a good crowd here each week,” he said.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and it was great being back and playing a little bit of cricket.”
Starr said they felt a few niggles they hadn’t since their playing days but it was all worth it.
“There's plenty of knees and hamstrings that aren't going well at all so I think the concept of Twenty20 and only having those three eight-ball overs and going in to have a quick swing and not having to worry about quick singles is made for old men like us,” he said.
The Ray White-Cressbrook team are hoping to make an appearance in the 2019 tournament.
“It was interesting, just walking off there were quite a few of the guys who said they had a lot of fun and enjoyed it and there is some talk that if the competition permits it and they are happy to have us back that we might look at doing it again,” Starr said.
“All of us have families so the kids have enjoyed coming along and watching their dads get put under pressure and fail a bit.
“Thanks to Armidale District Cricket Association for permitting us to put a team in and we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”