By Callum Ludwig
Seville Cricket Club’s 1st XI could almost taste a grand final berth in their match against South Warrandyte on Saturday 12 March.
The scores were tied with 3 deliveries to come remaining in the match from South Warrandyte’s Hayden Currie, who had gone for only 15 runs from his previous 7 and a half overs.
Seville was down to their last wicket, with tail-enders Dylan Walker and Pamuditha ‘Geemal’ Rajapakshage in the middle. As Seville finished fourth in the regular season, while South Warrandyte was second, Seville required the final run to win and go through to the grand final.
The ball came in and Geemal lashed it through the leg-side, with the Seville batters deciding to push for a single. Unfortunately, the pick-up was as clean as they come from South Warrandyte’s Luke McIlroy, whose quick thinking and even quicker feet saw him race towards the wickets at the bowler’s end before Geemal could reach the crease.
Wild celebrations ensued from the South Warrandyte players and crowd, while Seville’s traveling team was despondent and devasted. In a great show of sportsmanship, Seville steeled themselves to congratulate and shake the hands of their opponents.
The day was further soured by an injury to bowler Kane Jones, who limped off the field midway through a bowling spell.
Seville’s top performers with the bat on the day were Brendan Woods 40, captain David Lever with 24 and Adam Waixel and Jon Williams 14. Lever was also very effective with the ball and in the field, taking 2 catches and 3/45 off his 8 overs, topped only by Kane Jones before he succumbed to injury with figures of 3/20 from his 6.4 overs.
