Riddell’s reign as the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s top T20 side continues with the Bombers winning the premier division title.
The Bombers are a formidable team when it comes to the shorter format, having won the title last season after being runners-up the season before.
On Tuesday night, they faced Sunbury in the premier division grand final.
In the most even performance from the side across the four games they played in the competition, the Bombers posted 7-150. Cameron Moran, Matthew Darby, Daniel Fisk and Heath Wadden all scored 20 runs or more.
In reply, the Bombers restricted Sunbury to 109.
Captain-coach Mick Allen and Matthew Livingstone took two wickets each.
Allen said winning the toss was vital on a night tricky for batsmen.
“Everyone contributed with the bat and it was the same with the ball,” he said.
“There’s no real fielding restrictions in the competition, so you can cover the boundaries easily. We had to restrict them early on.”
The Bombers’ pressure with the ball and in the field caused four run-outs, with Allen saying they were a key to getting the win.
“If you don’t take those opportunities, you can let the game slip,” he said.
Allen said Riddell had a side best suited to the short game.
“We’ve got a lot of players who can do both [bat and bowl] and can hit a long way, like we saw with Matthew Darby in one of the earlier games,” he said.
Allen said he hoped the result would help build the confidence of the side heading into the second half of the season.
The Bombers have at least two other T20 matches to come.
As winners of the GDCA competition, they will play in the region’s Central Willow event in January.
They are also through to the final eight of Regional Big Bash.
Allen said they were keen to progress as far as possible in both.
“The boys really enjoy T20,” he said. “ There’s only two games between us and playing at the MCG [in the Regional Big Bash] and a lot of the guys have never played there. We’re taking it pretty serious.”
Meanwhile, Wallan had a convincing win against Sunbury United in the GDCA’s district division grand final.
United made 9-106, with Lance Watts (43) and Austin Young (17) the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Russell Whittingham put on a display in Wallan’s innings, his 83 not out including seven fours and five sixes as the Magpies reached the target with nine wickets and four overs to spare.
The Magpies finished on 1-107.
