The NSW Community Cricket Cup Finals Day at Kanebridge Oval on February 11 lived up to expectations, treating cricket enthusiasts to a day filled with nail-biting encounters and exceptional performances, with Wollongong District Cricket Club (DCC) taking home the silverware and etching their name in history books as the first winners of the competition.
Wollongong DCC takes home inaugural NSW Community Cricket Cup
Wollongong DCC - winners of the inaugural NSW Community Cricket Cup // Jazz Chalouhi
Finals Day was a close contest between two metropolitan clubs, Epping Bulls Cricket Club and Berowra Cricket Club, and two regional NSW clubs, Wollongong DCC and Wallsend DCC.
The day followed a triple-header format, with the first semi-final scheduled for 10am, followed by the second semi-final at 2pm, culminating in the inaugural Cricket NSW Community Cricket Cup grand final at 6.30pm.
The first semi-final between Wallsend DCC and Berowra CC proved to be a heart-stopper, with the match coming down to the last ball. Berowra needed six runs to win, but Wallsend emerged victorious, showcasing exceptional death bowling skills.
In the second semi-final, Wollongong DCC faced off against Epping Bulls CC in another closely contested battle. Wollongong's dominance with the bat early on set the tone, and they secured a 14-run victory in a game that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The highly anticipated Grand Final became an all-regional affair and featured Wallsend against Wollongong, creating a captivating spectacle under the lights. Winning the bat flip, Wallsend chose to bat first. However, Wollongong's tight bowling limited Wallsend to a total of 105 runs.
In response, Wollongong's opening batsmen displayed composure, both contributing scores of 34 and 44. Wollongong successfully chased down the target with only two wickets down in the 16th over, securing the Community Cup.
Pushpinder Jassal was named the Man of the Match for his outstanding spin bowling performance, claiming 4 wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs. The victory earned Wollongong DCC the Community Cricket Cup and a prize of $2000.