Storm's final spring

Dejan Kalinic
SYDENHAM/Hillside moved into its first George Luscombe Shield one-day cup final in fine form with a four-wicket win against Burnside Springs in a North West Cricket Association runfest on Saturday.
Storm reeled in Burnside Springs’ 238 with 15 balls to spare, after some late order hitting from Burnside helped it set a competitive total in a battle between the competition’s top and bottom teams.
Sydenham/Hillside captain-coach Bob Kunesevic said it was an exciting time at the club ahead of the final against Buckley Park on 6 February.
“It’s the first time in the club’s history we have made any Luscombe grand final,” he said.
“It’s an exciting time and everyone was buzzing around the rooms.”
The visiting Storm made a flying start to the chase, getting to 125 for the loss of two wickets in the first 15 overs.
Opener Terry Bayly (84) hit five sixes in his important knock and combined in a 74-run partnership with Kunesevic (34), who was pleased his opener set the tone.
“We really wanted to put the foot on the accelerator,” Kunesevic said.
“Terry went on with it, but it was disappointing for him not to score a ton. He just fell short at the end.”
In-form batsman Warren Hackney (41) put on 56 with Peter Bailey (35 not out) before the latter saw out the chase with Jarryd Lindsay (22 not out).
First-change Burnside bowler Haider Cheema (3/44) gave his side hope with a couple of quick middle-order wickets.
Burnside Springs captain-coach Rick Hudson said his team showed some good signs after electing to bat.
“There was some good signs for us in terms of what we were able to achieve,” he said.
“(We were) able to bat through the 40 overs, we didn’t let Sydenham dismiss us and there was a great partnership in the middle.”
Hudson praised Chris Maiden for his vital unbeaten knock of 77, which included six sixes.
“I certainly thought his innings stood out as the best over the course of the day,” Hudson said.
“He was able to absorb some of the pressure when he went in and bat through that, build an innings and really became an anchor for us in terms of posting a competitive score.”
Maiden and Adam Baker (38) put on 109 for the seventh wicket, despite the bowling efforts of Nicholas Ferguson (2/29), Alexander Hassett (2/49) and Bayly (2/54).
Hudson said the partnership showed the depth of Burnside’s batting line up after the hosts fell to 6/93.
Kealba-Green Gully fell to a narrow one-wicket loss against Buckley Park, Sydenham/Hillside’s opponent in the one-day cup final.
The Cougars reached 169 from their 40 overs, thanks to another great knock from Evan Long (50), while Todd Newman (37) continued his fine form.
But the home side reached the target with one ball to spare on the back of a 43-run stand for the 10th wicket. Matthew Scalzo (3/32) was the best of the bowlers.

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