Harper Sercombe
Spotswood is the champions of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association’s twilight T20 competition.
The Woodsmen defeated Ivanhoe on the night of Tuesday to claim the T20 flag, yet it didn’t come without its challenges.
After electing to bat the Woodsmen were in a lot of trouble at 6-53 in the 11th over. However, an 87 run seventh wicket partnership between skipper Taylor Tatterson and all-rounder Jack Rietschel, saved their team. Rietschel fell on the final ball of the innings, with the Woodmen finishing on 7-140.
“A lot of credit has got to go to our T20 captain Taylor [Tatterson],” coach Dan Schuppan said. “A lot of clubs treat it a bit differently but Taylor was like ‘we’re in this to win it’ so we always put out a pretty strong side week in, week out.
“Taylor really led from the front on Tuesday night, we were in a fair bit of trouble and he’s been in really good form recently, not only in T20 but in our Saturday games. So it was a fantastic performance and full credit needs to go to the team but then Taylor really needs to take a bit of credit as well.
“Jack Rietschel was our death player and he’s class. He’s played for Vic Country for a little bit, he’s really good friends with Taylor, they come from the same club down in Sale.
“It was amazing to have Jack and his experience through that middle order, we know he’s a class bowler but he’s a quality batter as well.”
With the ball the Woodsmen were clinical, with all bowlers except premier quick Sam Hope amongst the wickets.
Ivanhoe were in a decent position at 4-71 in the 12th over, but quickly lost its remaining six wickets for just 23 runs, with the last wicket taken in the 17th over, securing the victory for Spotswood.
Ivanhoe was bowled out for 94.
“I said to the guys that the great thing about Tuesday night was there were so many contributions and that’s hard in 20-20,” Schuppan said.
“There aren’t a lot of overs so normally you might get one dominant player with the ball, but Harry Lumsden bowled unbelievable, Ansh Sharma for a 15 or 16-year-old, I think he ended up being the highest wicket taker in the T20 competition.
“So he’s just had an unbelievable T20 experience, so we’re wrapped with how that turned out.”
Lumsden was the pick of the Spotswood bowlers on Tuesday, as he took 3-20 from his four overs.
Sharma took 2-21 for the night but finished the competition with nine wickets at an average of 8.44, as the competition’s best wicket taker.
Spotswood lost to Ivanhoe in the weekend competition on the Sunday prior to the final, so Schuppan said he was pleased his side was able to square the ledger.
“We got back onto the horse and played some really good cricket on Tuesday night,” he said.
“They were too good for us on Sunday but we got the chocolates on Tuesday which was fantastic.”
