By Tara Murray
The men in pink emerged victorious in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Premier Firsts T20 clash between Diggers Rest Bulla and Sunbury.
The Diggers Rest Bulla players donned specially made pink uniforms as their club hosted a Pink Stumps and Ladies Day event.
While the club has hosted Pink Stumps Days in the past, this was the first time it had hosted a Ladies Day as it looked to recognise the contribution women make to the club.
On the field, the Burras had a solid win as they work on keeping their spot in the top four.
They bowled Sunbury out for 78 with four overs remaining.
Darren Quarrell and Anushka Thanthiri took three wickets each for the Burras.
Youngster Mitchell McLean, in his first top-grade game, top scored for Sunbury with 18.
The Burras had little trouble chasing the runs down, finishing 1-81 in a little more than 10 overs.
Captain-coach Rasika Batepola top-scored with 48 not out.
Photo Gallery: Diggers Rest Bulla vs Sunbury
Speaking before the game, Burras all-rounder Kevin Barker said the Pink Stumps Day was a massive event that allowed the club to raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer Network Australia.
“It’s a great cause and we want to get behind it,” he said.
“This year we wanted to take it a step further … we wanted to pay tribute to the wives, girlfriends, sisters and mothers.
“We want to go from strength to strength each year with this event.”
Barker said it was unlikely to be the last time that the pink outfits would be on show.
“In the T20 competition you’re allowed to wear coloured uniforms,” Barker said.
“We’ve designed a pink uniform and we will wear it in all T20s going forward.
“If we continue to play the T20s for points [like this season], we will make our home T20 match Pink Stumps and Ladies Day every
year.”
The win keeps the Burras sitting in fourth on the ladder as the competition returns to the two-day format.
In other matches, Romsey fell short against Bacchus Marsh despite a century to skipper Ben Way.
Way made 104 at the top of the order as the Redbacks made 5-155 from their overs.
Way hit five fours and seven sixes as he dominated the innings.
The Bulls had little trouble getting the runs, finishing 5-156 with 21 balls remaining.
Madushanka Ekanayaka, who was promoted to opener for the ladder leaders, top-scored with 56.
Woodend made it two from two in the T20s by beating Wallan. Woodend made 8-172 from its overs with Warren Else top-scoring with 47. Wallan fell well short, making 8-136.
Gisborne also had a good win, beating Sunbury United. The Dragons made 6-157 from their overs, with Jason Wilson top-scoring with 40 runs. Brandon Watts was the pick of the bowlers with 3-31.
United didn’t get near that total, finishing 6-125.
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