After finishing with the wooden spoon in the 2019/20 GDCA first grade season, Leagues Panthers have turned around their fortune, having secured the minor premiership after a 13-run victory over Coro Cougars.
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The Panthers won the toss and were able to make a strong start with Ryan Greenaway and Ben Leach at the top of the order.
The pair were able to make a steady start scoring 33 runs off the first 10 overs before reaching 54 before Leach (25) was stumped off the bowling of Jack Hutchinson in the 16th over.
Hutchinson (3/32) was able to follow the first wicket up with the dismissal of Reece Matheson (4) when Teei Piawi was able to take a diving catch in gully while Leagues captain Jimmy Binks (2) was caught on the boundary by Ben Signor on the brink of drinks to see the Panthers sitting on 3/77.
With a strong foundation to build from in the second half of their innings, Greenaway and Daniel Bozic looked to maintain the positive momentum.
Over the next eight overs, Leagues were able to put on 36 runs before Bozic (12) was dismissed by a sharp caught and bowled from Rob Rand.
Logan Matheson joined Greenaway out in the middle and kept the runs ticking over as the Panthers pushed towards the 150-mark, and Greenaway was able to raise the bat as he passed 50.
After getting their side to 143, Matheson (11) was dismissed by Rand (2/23), while Mitchell Williams-Hedges (1/20) picked up the wicket of Greenaway (71).
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With five overs left and the Panthers sitting on 147, Paul Plummer (1) was knocked over by Ben Signor (1/34) while Raj Singh (5) was run out by Jake Rand.
Noah Gaske (10*) and Tom Greenaway (9*) were able to add some late runs to see the Panthers finish their 40 overs on 8/171.
Dan Hillam was able to make an early breakthrough when he picked up the wicket of Williams-Hedges (1) while Plummer (1/8) picked up the wicket of Dean Bennett (4) four overs later to see the Cougars sitting on 2/23 after six overs.
The Panthers were faced with an issue when Plummer was forced from the field with a hamstring issue as Haydn Pascoe and Tim Rand looked to get the Cougars on track for victory.
Heading into the drinks break, the third-pairing were able to lift the Coro side to 78 and continued to make strong inroads into the chase.
With the Cougars needing 44 runs with 11 overs remaining Singh was able to break the 104-run stand when he picked up the wicket of Rand (36).
Pascoe was able to post fifty however, when he was bowled by Tom Greenaway (1/29), the game swung with the fall of quick wickets.
The Cougars had time on their side, but they lost 6/15 with Dan Hillam (4/13) doing the bulk of the damage while Singh (2/27) dismissed Signor (1) and Jake Rand (0) was run out by Bozic.
With one wicket in hand, the Cougars required 17 runs off the final 15 deliveries, but as they looked for runs, Ryan Greenaway was able to run out Hutchinson (1) to see the Cougars bowled out for 158 and secure Leagues the minor premiership.
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