Twenty20 D-grade ǀ Gagliardi duo delivers Students delight

Skipper Thomas Favaro was full of praise for Bathman, who managed to bat through the innings to an important 39 off 47 balls.

“Opening bat Jase Bathman batted the whole way through — he batted really well and set the tempo for us,” Favaro said.

Some clean hitting from man-of-the-match Gagliardi took the Students’ innings to another level; he whacked a masterful half-century off 21 balls to kick things up a notch.

“He’s just a superstar, he gets leading edges for six, he just hits every ball for six almost, easily one of our best bats,” Favaro said.

Strike bowlers Harper Collins and Darcy Smyth kept things tight early in reply, restricting the Lodgers’ batters, who were keen to let loose.

Opener Will Batey (36) said enough was enough a few balls later, and put one over the ropes to kick-start their innings.

But after he departed in the ninth over off the bowling of Tom Janke, the Lodgers failed to regain momentum.

A slick Students bowling unit went on to seal the win, spearheaded by young-gun Andre Gagliardi who notched figures of 4-27.

“We’re over the moon really, it’s a good team effort to knock them off and finally beat them after they beat us a couple of times, real good feeling to finally get a flag under our belt,” Favaro said.

“We bowled really well, kept things tight — a few loose ones which you’re going to get in D-grade cricket — but overall I think we bowled really well in the end, a nice line, and keeping them to 120-odd is tough in 20 overs.”