Ashfield maintains its reputation as one of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s best T20 sides, winning its second district division premiership in three years.
Having won 10 of its past 11 T20 matches before Tuesday night’s fixture against Lancefield, Ashfield was favourite to add another title to its collection.
Electing to bat, it made the most of the conditions on its home pitch with 7-149 off its 20 overs.
Ashfield captain-coach Jason King said the side was starting to bat well at the right time of the competition.
“We knew 149 was a really good score and we made the same score in the semi-final – our biggest totals of the competition.
“We were quietly confident we could get the win.”
Craig Ballinger starred with the bat for Ashfield, making 60. It was the first time an Ashfield player had reached a half-century in the competition’s history.
In reply, Lancefield managed 7-122, falling 28 short.
“They had a partnership in the middle of the innings, but when we got two wickets in an over it turned the game our way,” King said. “We didn’t bowl them out, but we did all the right things.
“We protected the boundaries and continued to save runs, even when the game was over.
“We didn’t take our foot off the pedal.”
King said the club’s success in the T20 competition was about selecting the players who best suited the game style.
“A lot of teams pick their firsts players, who may not be suited to T20s. We’ve brought in a lot of kids and asked a lot of them.
“We have a group of about 15-16 T20 players, and there’s rivalry for spots.
“Our emergency for the game [Ryan Pretty] came in, made 22 and took a couple of wickets.”
King said it was the first time youngsters Michael Fox and Dylan Caruana had been involved in a winning T20 grand final.
He also paid tribute to Peter Taylor.
“Peter has been around the club for 30 years and has always missed out on playing in the grand final.”
The win pitched Ashfield into the Central Highlands Region Willow T20 Cup finals on January 25 and 26.
It’s the first time the winner of the district division has been invited to the region finals.
“The last few weeks have been amazing.
“It’s a good place to be at the moment,” King said.
