Riddell’s dominance of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association T20 premier division continues, with the Bombers winning a third straight title.
The Bombers showed their best short form cricket so far in the comprehensive win against Romsey on Tuesday night.
Electing to bat, the Bombers made 5-170 off its overs. Playing captain-coach Mick Allen top scored with 56, while Daniel Fisk and James Taylor both made runs late in the order.
Allen returned to the top of the order after not batting in the last T20 game. He said the side’s batting line-up depended on the game situation.
“It’s one of those things, if we bat first then I’ll open the batting,” he said.
“If we bowl first we’ll see what we need to get and then change it up a bit. If you look at the McIntyre Cup matches, we’ve had four guys in five matches make centuries and it’s been a while since that happened.”
Allen said he thought 170 was around the mark.
He said the key to getting the win was restricting Ben Way and Chris Burkett.
They did that and ultimately Romsey struggled.
Romsey was in trouble at 6-37 and was eventually out for just 64.
Allen, Cameron Moran, Harry Fisher and Heath Brown took two wickets each for the Bombers. Brown also produced a good bit of fielding to run Way out.
Allen said one of the pleasing things about the T20 tournament was giving opportunities to younger players across the four games.
“Harry Fisher came back from school cricket and contributed in the final,” he said.
“Alex Ryan played, as did Ben Radford who was away for the final.”
With three straight T20 titles, Allen said the key to their success was having a number of options with the bat and ball.
“We’ve got heaps of players that are all rounders,” he said.
“The likes of Matt Darby and Cam Moran, everyone can bat and bowl. We’re just trying to transition that into the two-day stuff.”
The win means the Bombers qualify for the Central Highlands region’s Cricket Willow T20 finals in January.
The Bombers finished runners-up earlier this year, having won the event the year before.
Allen said they were keen to get that trophy again. “We are in it now and we’re in it to win it,” he said.
“Last time we were playing three different competitions at the one time and it was quite hectic. We played four or five Saturday-Sunday matches in a row.
“In the final [Central Willow] we had just one of our McIntyre Cup side in the team.”
It’s been a good start to the season for the Bombers, who are undefeated in the McIntyre Cup competition. Last season they were sitting last at Christmas. The Bombers second day of play against Gisborne was on Saturday, after
Star Weekly went to print.
For all weekend McIntyre Cup results go to www.starweekly.com.au/sports
