Big wicket sets the scene

Cricket - Back - Bruce Kerr (Bollywood Stars Most Valuable Player), Peter Stewart, Scott Tallott, Paul Stewart, Brad Reynolds, Matt Cook - Front - Dane Thompson, David Situ, Francesco Colucci, Glen Udall (captain), Ajay Kumar. Picture by Meredith Stewart

Dane Thompson took the biggest wicket in the biggest game of the year so far.

The third ball of opening bowler Thompson’s first over didn’t decide the result of last night’s Walker Shield T15 Blast grand final — but the balance of power did shift with this scorebook entry: “NB Hendrie caught B Kerr bowled DT Thompson 0 (three balls)”.

That dismissal swung the game towards Glen Udall’s Bollywood Stars and away from Jak Rowe’s Smash Palace Bail-breakers.

Hendrie has scored unbeaten centuries for Bollywood Poverty Bay, Bay of Plenty premier club champions Greerton and Northern Districts A this season. With his dismissal, the Stars went to another level — and on to take the shield with a six-wicket win.

“Our team is full of match-winners,” Udall said.

“We were up for this game, and brought real energy to it.

“We’re thrilled to have played to our potential with a clinical all-round performance.

“We knew Dane (1-17 off three overs) had the ability to test a quality player like Nic. Brad Reynolds (3-19 off three) was also devastating for us with the ball. They were backed up by Paul Stewart (1-15 off three) and Matt Cook (1-18 off three).

“Bruce Kerr was our MVP (most valuable player) with a commanding innings of 31 not out off 27 balls.”

Stars wicketkeeper and first-drop Kerr lofted an off-drive off Josiah Turner for four — his third boundary — to seal victory for the underdogs, handing the Bail-breakers only their third loss in a season that began on October 26 last year.

Rowe won the toss and elected to bat, No.4 Jacob Colbert (30 from 31 balls) top-scoring in the Bail-breakers’ total of 88-6 in 15 completed overs.

Although the boundary of the Harry Barker Reserve’s representative wicket was reduced to 67 metres to counter grass length, only four boundaries were struck in a first innings that — before the match began — might have had the Bail-breakers aiming for 120 at least.

Stars opener Francesco Colucci was belligerent in the chase, smashing five fours in his 11-ball innings of 22 despite the best efforts of Bail-breakers skipper Rowe, who took 2-14 off three overs and ran the opposition captain out for 17.

Breakers MVP Rowe said: “The better team won on the day. Full credit to the Bollywood bowlers. They bowled well for the whole 15 overs, conceding only seven extras. Bruce held three catches and then proceeded to take the game away from us with the bat.”

Umpires Tony Lee and Jason Trowill had an excellent match, in terms of their decision-making and management of the players.

The teams were ably led and the players conducted themselves well.