Northerners snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in thrilling B-grade T20 grand final

Hosted out at Princess Park, Northerners waltzed past Old Students after restricting their score to 4-93, while another strong bowling display from Euroa booked the Magpies a spot in the grand final over a previously unbeaten Undera.

Euroa had played just the one round-robin match compared to the Jets’ two, however, the Magpies were quick to rule out any idea that the favourites would romp home in the grand final.

Trent Sidebottom would fall without getting off the mark in the first over of the clash as Darby Wilson skittled the stumps, but the pair of Hall’s, Cohan and Preston, would steady the ship for Northerners.

A 60-run partnership ensued, but once Cohan Hall fell, the tide began to turn again in Euroa’s favour.

Preston Hall would try stem the bleeding, but a tight run saw Jake Davidson dismissed via run out, before Hall squeezed one down the throat of Ryan Hill.

They say one brings two, but Davidson’s dismissal ultimately brought five in a catastrophic collapse for the Jets, upending their cruisy tempo with five overs to spare.

Losing 5-8, and 8-31 by innings end, the Jets had posted its lowest total of the tournament after batting first at 108, leaving Northerners captain Josh Sidebottom on edge for the tense bowling display to come.

“When we batted I thought, ‘yeah, we'll be right’, but we only set a target of 109,” Sidebottom said.

“And I thought the way we've been bowling - yesterday we bowled alright but today, the first game we played wasn't as good as we expected.”

With all momentum from the finish in the field, Euroa opening pair William Jackson and Ryan Hill took no time getting their eye in before unleashing punching cover drives and lofted hook shots to the fence.

Sidebottom and Oscar Buckland looked out of answers as every line and length variation was thwarted with confident strokes, and after the opening four-over spell, the battig duo had put the Magpies in a prime winning position, striking at a run rate close to nine an over.

But Sidebottom gave himself one extra crack.

Clipped away for four off the first ball of his third over, it seemed the decision to bowl again would mark the same results.

That was until Sidebottom made his breakthrough.

Building pressure with three consecutive dot balls, Hill was sent back to the sheds after being caught out.

But with a required run rate diminishing increasingly, Stuart Turner and Nathaniel Timson came on to tighten the loose ends.

In doing so, Euroa co-captain Nicholas Hill was dismissed cheaply for two runs, before Turner secured the wicket of Lachlan Hill in the 10th over.

It was a stark turnaround for Northerners, which had now managed to prevent Euroa’s ability to pick gaps at will.

Following Turner’s near-wicket-maiden, the Jets stifled Euroa to two, one, three and seven runs across the next four overs - until the game-changing moment occurred.

A fierce pace delivery from Sidebottom tore the pegs out of the ground in the 15th over, and it was William Jackson that was finally walking.

Scoring 28 off 15, Jackson was the danger man at the crease, and with his exit, Northerners, which appeared dead for all money, had brought itself back to life.

At the fall of that wicket, not only was Jackson sent to take off the pads, but Euroa’s run rate had dipped below the required for the first time all game.

It was now the Northerners to lose.

The Jets claimed two more scalps before Euroa co-captain Jye Bjorksten unleashed a maximum off of Trent Sidebottom’s final delivery of the 18th over.

At the death, 10 runs, or four wickets, off 12 balls was the gripping scenario.

Two singles to open the penultimate over settled some Euroa nerves, but it wouldn’t last long.

On Jake Buckland’s third delivery, a disciplined Northerners field secured a critical run-out.

The very next ball, Buckland sent bails flying.

In the course of a minute, the Magpies had gone from a sneaky chance to on the ropes, fending for its life.

Oliver Wilson found a single after marking middle, but the pressure in the field again caused a running mishap, with Wilson run out at the keepers’ end.

Eight required off the final over.

Euroa tailender Darby Wilson had hearts in mouths as his slash of the first ball travelled deep to the boundary line - if it travelled for six, the Magpies would be on the cusp of victory.

High over the bowler’s head it flew, but, it fell right into the lap of Turner on the rope.

The stunning Northerners fight back was secured.

“We took our catches and, well, they say catches win matches,” Sidebottom said.

“Once we had once we had William Jackson and the other opener out, I think their batting wasn’t as strong as those two.

“And when you post a total like that batting-wise, in the end you've got to back your bowlers.

“So today, I backed them, and it worked out - I wasn't going to bowl Jake Buckland, but eventually I had to and he probably bowled the best out of us and he got the wickets.”

Preston Hall’s knock of 45 saw the youngster claim player of the match, with Sidebottom adamant the recruit will only sharpen the defending champions’ chances at back-to-back B-grade success.

“We haven't lost anyone and we’ve gained Preston,” he said.

“It’s looking like it's going to be another good year for us.

“Hopefully we bring it on.”