Southern Smash 2023: Albany Finance Fury stake claim for final berth, four teams remain in hunt after day one

Albany Finance Fury are the only unbeaten side after day one of the 2023 Southern Smash while four teams remain in the hunt to finish in the top two of regional WA’s premier T20 competition on Friday. The Fury overcame a small batting collapse to reel in 147 set by Elders Avengers who were also heading into the game on the back of a round one win. The Avengers side featured WA-contracted quick and Albany product Bryce Jackson. Bryce Jackson bowled impressively in the opening game to snare 2-10 from three overs and did not bowl in his team’s loss to the Fury as he works his way back to full fitness. In the clash of the two sides at Turf North, the Fury were 5-77 and in desperate need of a big knock and Luke Gollan gave them just that. He plundered 51 from 25 balls including four sixes and two fours to steer his side to their second win. Their prized No.1 pick Will Bosisto scored 34 from 30 balls at the top of the order while Garrick Morgan contributed 25, combing for a 61-run stand. They soon got the wobbles when Michael Ferriera, Luke Holt and Liam Want all came and went without adding to their team’s total. Ollie Dabinett-Jays did most of the damage with the ball for the Avengers claiming the first five-wicket haul of the tournament with 5-14 from three overs. His heroics with the ball were not enough as Alex Fergie finished unbeaten on 20 to ensure his side chased their total with nine balls to spare. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Avengers relied heavily on England Test-capped James Bracey for most of their scoring. His destructive 76 came from just 54 balls, including five sixes and three fours, before he went one too many and fell to Adam Prowse. Jacob Whiteaker and Dabinett-Jays added another 25 and 20 respectively but tight lines from the Fury meant they were restricted to 146 after 20 overs. Prowse (2-8) and Liam Renton (2-22) were the pick of the Fury bowlers. The Fury were hot early against the Retravision Warriors storming to a 70-run win earlier in the day. After being sent into bat, the Fury slumped to 2-21 in the fifth over – with one wicket being Bosisto (1) but clawed back to post 142. Cameos from Garrick Morgan (47), Gollan (27) and Luke Holt (22 not out) helped steer their side to a defendable total while wayward bowling contributed 23 extras to the Fury’s score. Fury’s fast-bowling cartel, spearheaded by Renton (4-14), ripped through the Warriors’ batting line-up. Not one batsman scored double figures except captain Nathan Crudeli with 38 for 25 deliveries as the Warriors were skittled in the 14th over for 72. Warriors did suffer a blow before the tournament started with star all-rounder Julian Crudeli being a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury. Arc Infrastructure Aces kept their finals hopes alive after claiming a final-over thriller against three-time reigning premiers Ignition Inswing. The Aces suffered a 62-run belting from the Avengers in round one and needed a win to keep their hopes of playing consecutive deciders alive. In pursuit of 112 for victory, late inclusion Tyrone Virgo scored an unbeaten 34 to anchor the innings before they reached the total with two balls to spare. Virgo replaced Kade Povey who withdrew with COVID. Alex Bevilaqua (24) and Clayton Bruce-Cherry (23) also added handy contributions with the bat. Ben Payne claimed the wickets of Bevilaqua and Jaxon Cornford for a duck in back-to-balls but Virgo held firm at the other end. Payne claimed 3-29 while Sri Lankan legend Tillakaratne Dilshan took 2-16. Inswing batsman Shayne Wornes (44 not out) and Lincoln Joy (31) were the main contributors, but neither could effectively push the run rate along. Aces’ solid channels and smart bowling plans made it difficult for their opponents to score freely. Charlie Walters claimed 3-16 from his four overs while Mitchell Oliver took 1-22 in his spell. Ignition made it 11 wins in a row across three years after thumping Camtrans Bulldogs by 31 runs in round one. Batting first the Ignition posted 130 runs at the end of their 20 overs, with stalwart Kallen Bond bringing hitting his half-century milestone. Bond scored 53 from 51 as he and fellow opener Joy (24 from 19) put on a 46-run opening stand but they lacked middle order support. Dilshan was caught behind the first ball off Joe Stanley for a golden duck. Stanley’s 2-21 was the best for the Bulldogs, while captain Damien Burrage took 2-23. Ignition was off to a flyer after Cameron Becker claimed Bulldogs’ opener Coen Marwick for a first ball duck. Their bowling attack shared the load, taking frequent wickets while limiting most scoring avenues before finally rolling them in the 19th over for 99. John Sanders’ 3-7 and Ben Payne’s 3-29 were the standout efforts with the ball for Ignition who suffered a blow, losing Rees to a hamstring injury. A batting masterclass from the Avengers set up their first win of the tournament against the Aces after posting a commanding 147 runs for victory. Their top seven batsmen all got starts and with smart stroke play and using the howling breeze to their advantage, they found the boundary frequently. Bracey scored a quickfire 26 from 19 including two sixes before Albany-raised Mitchell Jackson plundered 31 from 17 with four fours and a six. Fast bowling brothers Mitch and Bryce Jackson terrorised the Aces batsman early, combining for three wickets. The Avengers’ bowling attack feasted on the Ace’s batting lineup with seven bowlers picking up a wicket before they were rolled in the 19th over 62 runs shy of the target. Warriors’ campaign has all but ended as they became the only team to be winless after round two. Round three begins on Saturday at 11am before the grand final at 3.30pm.