Williamstown is heading to the final four of sub-district cricket’s Twenty20 twilight competition.
The Seagulls went through the four-game group stage undefeated, booking their spot in the semi-finals with a 29-run win over Hoppers Crossing at the Williamstown Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Seagulls captain-coach Dale McDonald said his young side would relish a rare chance to experience finals pressure.
“It’s a fantastic effort for the club,” he said. “We haven’t played finals of any kind for a few years and T20s are taken pretty seriously this year, so it’s really good.”
T20 finals day is fast becoming one of the most anticipated events on the sub-district calendar.
Four teams will meet on a super Sunday of cricket at Altona on January 31 with semi-finals early in the day and the grand final in late afternoon.
The format has been given a big thumbs up from McDonald.
“It’s the perfect set-up,” he said. “I don’t think we should be taking it into home and away cricket. It’s a really good way of doing it, to create a good environment at the finals.”
The Seagulls will meet Brunswick in their semi-final for the right to face either Oakleigh or Croydon in the grand final. The Gulls largely had Matthew Twentyman to thank after their win over Hoppers Crossing. He made 50 not out – his second half-century of the tournament – and then took 3-20 off four overs.
“He’s done really well with the bat in the T20s,” McDonald said.
Guest player Jordan Rhodes, loaned by Premier Cricket club Greenvale Kangaroos, took 2-21 from his four overs.
The Seagulls can have four invitational players turn out for the club but can choose only one to play in finals.
