The fourth edition of the Windmill Whack got underway on Sunday, and there were wins for the Maestros and the Tigers, in very different circumstances.

Game One saw Hunter’s skipper Mark Schofield win the toss against the Govani Maetros and elect to bat first, and after the early loss of Dan Simpson he saw Stu Connor (40) and Ben Calder (16) make good progress. Connor found the boundary with regularity as the score passed 50 but he and Calder both fell and the middle order struggled against the wily bowling of Karim Govani and Glen Noller. The Hurricanes looked like they would struggle to muster a competitive total, but Max Carter-Miller (34*) and Mike Larke (18) took advantage of some tired looking fielding from the experienced Maestros line up to help take the score up to 145-7 from their 20 overs.

Many at the ground believed this would be a challenging chase for the Maestros, but Alan Ison calmed his side’s nerves by taking 22 from the first over of the innings!!! He reached the retirement mark of 50 from just 15 balls (including 3 fours and 5 sixes) but the mantle was then taken up Andrew Kennedy who drove to the extra cover boundary with frequency as the Maestros cruised towards victory. Kennedy was trapped in front by Scott Fisher for 31, but Alex Ward and Matt Malby saw the Maestros home by eight wickets with six overs to spare.

While Game One had seen a decisive victory, Game Two went right down to the wire. Apple Finance Firebirds skipper John Curtis won the toss and decided to have a bat. Mike Rath looked in imperious form for the Birds as he reached 40 before being sent packing by the impressive Jamie O’Dell. Sam Twine, one of many youngsters picked by Curtis at the Draft Night, worked the ball around well, although he and the other batsmen struggled against the slow right arm bowling of Kevin Roome. Terry Wyatt combined with Twine and they looked like taking their side to a large total before Tom Hilson produced a spectacular catch to remove Wyatt off the bowling of Connor Whetstone. Twine went on to finish on an unbeaten 36 but with Russ Savidge executing his skills well in the final overs, the Birds were restricted to 136-5.

O’Dell and Harry Jenkins picked up early boundaries as the Kushoom Bugh based outfit began their chase, but youngsters Twine and Ollie Woods sent them both back to put the game in the balance. Hilson looked in good touch before falling to Aalok Latey and Luke Williams accounted for Julian Whetstone as the Birds fought back and put the pressure back on the Tigers. Williams also picked up Sean Richardson, and with 24 needed from the last two overs and then 17 from the last it looked like Curtis would end the day a happy man. Connor Whetstone had other ideas though as he went after Twine’s final over, and with the Firebirds inexperienced line up struggling to keep their nerve in the field the Tigers ended up needing one run from the final ball. Will Frost worked the concluding delivery to the point boundary for four to give the Tigers victory in one of the best contests in the Whack’s four year history. (Scorecard)

The next Whack action will take place on Wednesday 29th May when the Root 66ers enter the fray for the first time and face off against the Maestros who will be looking to follow up their impressive opening day victory.