Hannans in box seat for Twenty20 final with unbeaten record

Hannans are unbeaten after two rounds of the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association’s Twenty20 series following last Sunday’s six-wicket triumph over defending champions Great Boulder at Wallace Park.

Coming off a big win against Norths last month to open the series, Hannans needed just 15.4 overs to overhaul Great Boulder’s 60 runs off the back of captain Matt Ralph’s 23.

The run chase, however, wasn’t all plain sailing for Hannans who struggled to 4-50 with the early dismissals of Patrick Gorman, Graham Kennedy and Dominic Kelleher.

Ralph’s innings ended after 32 deliveries when he was stumped before Ash Malec (not out 12 off 13 balls) and Nick Caputo (not out three) saw Hannans home.

Great Boulder’s innings was underpinned by Daniel Tebble’s quickfire 20 runs off 21 deliveries with four boundaries.

But he was the only batter among the top seven to have an impact after opener Alex Jerrard compiled 11 runs off 10 deliveries and later Aaron Charlesworth was 14 not out off 14 balls from the No.11 spot.

Lake View fought back from the rigours of a tough domestic campaign to beat North Kalgoorlie in the other fixture.

Batting first, the Viewers compiled 5-131 — mainly on the efforts of captain George Burrows who top scored with 50.

Burrows’ half-century came off 35 balls and comprised four boundaries and two sixes after the side initially stuttered to 1-3.

Callum Howard contributed 14 runs and Shane Wood needed just 14 balls in racing to an unbeaten 24 — punctuated by a boundary and two sixes.

Kodee Lowe and Adam Hickey each grabbed two wickets for Norths, but their side was bowled out for 97 runs in 15.3 overs.

Michael Noble was impressive opening the batting, scoring 16 runs off eight deliveries.

Fellow opener Jake George batted in a similar fashion to score 13 runs off 11 balls, but the side crashed to 6-66.

No.4 batter Tex McLeod flayed the opposition attack for 19 runs off 12 deliveries.

However, the next-best support came from No.10 batter Leium Bernhardt who blasted 15 runs off 12 deliveries.

Round three will be played this Sunday at Wallace Park when Great Boulder oppose Norths and Hannans battle Lake View.

The final will be played on March 10.

EGCA chairman James Trail last month said A-grade matches would be played exclusively at Wallace Park for the rest of the qualifying series.

The decision was based on the condition of Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex, which is undergoing major upgrades to the playing surface, and included moving the Twenty20 series from Friday nights under lights to Sundays at Wallace Park.