Cricket: Pennefather Junior steps up in T20

James Pennefather was key for United with bat and ball in the T20 win over Tech at Victoria Park.

Property Brokers United remain top of the table after the penultimate round of the Bullocks Twenty20 after hanging on for a seven run win over St Johns Tech at Victoria Park on Saturday.

After a rough start where leading batsmen Matthew Boswell and Tom Lance were gone in single figures, Freddie Wilson (12) and Brendon Walker (21) led a small recovery before Tech ripped through them again to leave United 62-6 in the 11th over.

Tom Friedel (3-9) and Akhil Kumar (2-8) were the pick of the bowlers.

However, youngster James Pennefather stepped up, blasting 42 from 25 deliveries including three sixes and four boundaries, and then Ritesh Verma entered at the death to take on the outfield and nail three sixes for a priceless 22 not out from 10 balls.

It seemed like Tech had a steady run chase under control as Fraser Kinnerley (27), Kumar (32) and S Suri (37) were all scoring at well over a run-a-ball with Tech 99-4 in the 13th over.

However the Pennefather's – James and father Martin – both took 2-24 from their four overs to make sure none of the top order could anchor the end of the run chase, and then Gerard Hobbs got into the lower order for another big T20 haul – taking 4-12 in three overs.

After Quinn Mailman (17) no-one else could get out of single figures, including regular batsmen like Bevan Hunter and Dominic Lock, the latter stranded after taking a single off his only delivery, as Tech couldn't get going in the final over and finished 140-9.

In the other game at Victoria Park, Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens picked up their first victory in any format in months with a win over Marist.

One of the key factors was the welcome return of representative allrounder Craig Clare, who took the first half of the summer off to heal up and get refreshed from a long and successful rugby season.

Scoreboard

United 147-8 (J Pennefather 42, R Verma 22, B Walker 21; T Friedel 3-9, A Kumar 2-8) bt Tech 140-9 (S Suri 37, A Kumar 32, F Kinnerley 27; G Hobbs 4-12, J Pennefather 2-24, M Pennefather 2-24).

Marton bt Marist (scores not available).