HAWKESBURY Cricket Club were beaten by one run in the club’s maiden one-day final on Sunday afternoon at Howell Oval, Penrith.
Penrith Cricket Club took the honours, after battling back from the brink of defeat in a rain-shortened match in front of a packed out crowd.
Hawkesbury’s Jordan Gauci played a superb innings, assisted ably by Josh Clarke and Dale McKay, to put the club into a position it should not have lost from.
However, the loss of Gauci and McKay saw an epic batting collapse, which ended up costing Hawkesbury the game.
Hawkesbury captain Jay Dyball said the loss was hard to take, but at the same time, was proud of the team for coming as far as it did.
“I always thought coming into today that we could win the game...unfortunately we came out on the wrong side,” he said.
“I think these boys can hold their heads high, they have been really terrific during this campaign.
“We always believed that we could do something special. To fall short is disappointing but I think there is plenty of positives for the club and the area.
“We have achieved a lot this year. To get this close and fall short is a tough one.”
Club president Richards Timbs echoed Dyball’s sentiments.
“There is a bit of pain about the loss but we are all very proud of the community and the team,” he said.
“To lose so closely after being in a very strong position was pretty devastating for the players, they were shattered last night.
“But when everyone reflects on the day, they will realise they were part of a magnificent spectacle for western Sydney.”
Overnight rain shortened the match to 35 overs for each side.
Penrith won the toss and batted first, and Hawkesbury did well to contain the side to 9-181.
Dyball and Abdul Kherkhah both took three wickets each, while Aamir Jamal and Arjun Nair bowled economically.
Josh Clarke was the first batsman out, falling for 25 with the score at 50.
From there, Jordan Gauci and Dale McKay dug in, and hit plenty of singles on the wet Howell Oval outfield.
Three dropped catches by Penrith, including two in the same over, did not help the home team’s cause as Gauci and McKay took the score to 139.
Gauci made 82 off 89 balls before being dismissed by man of the match Mick Castle, who took five wickets during Hawkesbury’s batting collapse to completely turn the match in Penrith’s favour.
Castle combined with Pat Cummins, who has played test match cricket for Australia, to completely skittle Hawkesbury.
Corey Lowe hit a couple of boundaries off Cummins, before he too fell, leaving tail-enders Pat Lawrence and Abdul Kherkhah at the crease.
The pair made a fine job of it, standing up to the pace of Cummins, who was fuming after earlier dropping a catch.
Cummins and Castle bowled the final overs of the match, and the pair did just enough to make the equation three runs needed off the final ball to tie the game.
Lawrence faced the final ball, and the pair managed to run two, before a run out ended any hope of a tie.
