Redbacks win thriller in Leschenault

Hay Park won a thriller against Leschenault on Saturday, winning by two wickets at Leschenault.

The Green Caps won the toss and elected to bat first, but things did not go to plan, with the hosts being bowled out for just 133 in the 46th over.

Captain Tom Buchanan put up a fighting 35, but the bowling attack of Hay Park proved too strong, with regular wickets falling throughout the innings.

Redbacks coach and stand-in captain Chris Waddingham started the year where he left off in December, taking 4-16 off six overs, dismissing opener Jake Eardley-Wilmot (14), Rod Shemeld (nine), Brody D’Agostino (three) and Kris Cumming (0) in a superb spell of fast bowling.

Kris Miller chipped in with two wickets, while the rest of Hay Park’s bowlers helped out along the way, with all sending down deliveries of good line and length.

With little on the board, Leschenault required early wickets and got their wish in the third ball of the Redbacks’ run chase, when James Lethford had young opener Michael Tassone trapped in front for a duck.

But Kris Miller and Mark Steven put on a superb partnership of 60 as they looked like they would take the game away from the Green Caps.

Matt Dodds broke the partnership in a superb spell of bowling, having Miller caught by D’Agostino for 37, before getting Steven (32) out lbw and then dismissing powerful import Dave Taylor for one in an almighty collapse.

Dodds then caught Chris McMillan (one) off his own bowling to send the Redbacks into a panic, with the visitors all of a sudden at 5/76.

Dodds finished the match with figures of 4-19 off his 10 overs.

Buchanan dismissed Ryan Leybourne for a fighting two, before catching Waddingham (four) off the bowling of Michael Newman.

Newman then bowled Reon Tither for a duck, leaving the Redbacks with 12 runs to get and just two wickets in hand.

But wicketkeeper Ashley Sbizzirri steadied the ship, scoring an unbeaten 37, partnering with James Ewing to see the Redbacks home in the tightest of matches.