DEVONPORT is the Cricket North-West first grade Twenty20 premier after defeating Latrobe by 79 runs in front of a sizeable crowd at Devonport Oval yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Orions proved they are the team to beat in 2014-15, by annihilating the Demons, demonstrating their considerable batting and bowling depth in an even performance.
The Orions won the toss and opening pair Miles Barnard and Tyler Dell, who have been devastating in recent weeks, continued their great form to take 43 runs from the first five overs.
The introduction of Zak Nicolle produced a double breakthrough for the Demons, as the 15-year-old dismissed Dell (24 from 14 balls) and Barnard (13 from 20) with successive deliveries to momentarily reduce the scoring rate.
With Nicolle (2-19) and fellow teenager Jacob Webb (1-15 from four overs) bowling well in tandem, Tim Moore (33 from 37 balls) and Brent Mullett (25 from 27 balls) accumulated runs.
But the floodgates opened a short time later when Mullett clubbed a couple of big sixes over midwicket, as he and Moore put on 56 for the third wicket.
A mix-up saw Moore run out, and Mullett was dismissed soon after trying to hit spinner Tristan Weeks (1-23) out of the ground. Latrobe managed to reduce the flow of boundaries in the later overs, but the explosive start ensured the Orions would post a very competitive 5-137, from 20 overs.
Latrobe needed to get off to a good start, with the required rate at 6.9 runs per over but with new ball pair Sam Fogg (2-12 from 4 overs) and Chris Lindsay (0-15 from 4 overs) at their miserly best, the Demons were up against it.
Fogg removed Callan Morse (3) and Matt Clarke (7) in the first five overs, while Scott Mitchell (2-9 from 4 overs) knocked over James Hendrickson (12) and Tristan Weeks (2) to have Latrobe reeling at 5-37 in the 11th over.
After a horrible first half of the innings the Demons needed to score at 10 runs per over, which looked to be beyond their reach. Nathan Avery saw the need to hit out, and thought he had a boundary when he hit Alex McChristie straight down the ground. Unfortunately for Avery, McChristie jumped up to get a hand on the ball, and followed up the rebound to take an outstanding catch. McChristie (3-21) then claimed the wickets of Wes Richardson (2) and Jacob Webb (12) to help his team to within sight of victory, before spinner Cody Brown (2-1) picked up the final two wickets, bowling Latrobe out for 58 in the 17th over.
Devonport has now won two CNW first grade T20 premierships after first tasting success in 2011-12, and it will now represent Cricket North West in the statewide T20 competition, beginning in January.
SLIDESHOW ONLINE