THE Port City Leagues Magpies are this season’s May Kelly Cup Twenty20 champions after defeating Macquarie in the final on Sunday night at Wayne Richards Oval.
The ’Pies batted first and knocked up an impressive 7/133 with Jesse Schmidt top scoring with 35 not out while B.J. Schneider hit a quickfire 26. In response the Port City bowlers had the opposition on the back foot from the first over with wickets falling at regular intervals meaning runs were hard to come by.
Leagues bowlers Scott Dickson (2/18) and Schmidt (2/16) did the early damage supported by Chris Cole (1/10) and Kyle Bray (1/12) to have Macquarie fall well short of the target at 8/88 at the completion of 20 overs. The side is now looking forward to competing at the annual Beechwood 7s tournament coming up on February 23.
Meanwhile, in the regular Hastings Cricket Competition 24 hours earlier at the same venue against the same team, the Magpies were humbled after being dismissed for just 67 runs chasing just 98 for victory. Cole (4/25) and Dickson (3/14) tore through Macquarie with the ball but no-one stood up with the bat, with only four players reaching double figures.
The second-grade Port City side were too strong for Comboyne at Andrew Parks with a six-wicket victory. The Tigers were dismissed for 128 with Kade Fens (2/7) and Schneider (2/25) the pick of the bowlers while Keegan Glavurdic (43 runs) and Luke Hutchins (40) dominated with the willow.
The third-grade Swoopers also defeated Comboyne winning by 51 runs. Batting first the Magpies scored 8/165 from their 40 overs with Captain Greg Hall unbeaten on 60 runs and Ray Atkins hit 35. In response the bowling attack of Wayne Popplewell, Ryan Doherty and Jamie Glason each bagged a double, supported by some great work in the field in what was a superb team effort.
A depleted third-grade Strikers team were no match for Camden Haven Red going down by 170 runs with Chris Cocking (20 runs and 1/36) and Josh Felton (15 and 3/37) doing their best under the circumstances.
The fourth-grade ’Pies crushed Beechwood by eight wickets after dismissing the visitors for 111, with Jeff Kelsey, John Stace and Tom Babicci each taking a brace of wickets. Peter Doble (61 not out) and Mick Gordon (37) then got Port City over the line within 20 overs.
