South Wagga has secured the title of Twenty20 champions after a decisive victory over St Michael’s by 33 runs in the grand final held on March 14, 2024, at Robertson Oval. This win marks a remarkable turnaround for the team, which managed only one victory in the previous season’s T20 competition but finished the current season undefeated.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Wagga posted a total of 8-125. Captain Brayden Ambler led the charge with a solid performance, scoring 43 runs from just 25 balls. He was supported by Joel Robinson, who contributed 26 runs, and Warren Clunes, who added 22 runs. A late boost from Jed Guthrie, who remained not out with 14 runs, helped the team reach a competitive score.
In response, St Michael’s struggled to build momentum and was all out for 92 runs. Robinson was the standout bowler for South Wagga, taking an impressive 4 wickets for 13 runs, including a remarkable hat-trick that significantly shifted the game’s momentum. His performance earned him serious consideration for best-on-ground honours.
Ambler expressed pride in his team’s performance, acknowledging the challenges they faced during the match. “It was a bit of a funny afternoon,” he remarked. “It looked like a very good wicket, but having Smeethy get out early was a big blow for us.” He referred to Alex Smeeth, who was dismissed for a duck, emphasizing the importance of his contributions throughout the season.
Despite the setback of losing Smeeth early, the team managed to stabilize their innings. Ambler noted, “Wags and Joel both got off to a really good start, and then the boys at the back end did a really good job.” He added that achieving a total of 125 runs was satisfactory, especially given the challenging batting conditions later in the match.
The bowling performance from South Wagga was strategic, with the team executing their plans effectively. Ambler explained, “We set specific plans, and we bowled to them. We bowled really good lengths and changed it up a bit. That was one of our better bowling performances.” Robinson’s hat-trick was a highlight, and Ambler described it as “pretty special.”
St Michael’s faced a tough start to their innings when Smeeth redeemed himself by taking the wicket of the dangerous Beck Frostick in the first over. Ambler regarded this as a crucial moment, commenting, “If we get him out early, then that’s a really important key.” Despite this early breakthrough, South Wagga remained vigilant, knowing that the Cawley brothers still posed a threat.
As the match progressed, Ambler’s quick-fire innings included three sixes, showcasing his aggressive approach to batting despite the difficult conditions. He stated, “It was quite hot out there, and it was really hard to get going,” but his determination helped the team maintain a steady run rate.
The only downside for South Wagga was Clunes sustaining a hamstring injury, preventing him from fielding in the second innings. Ambler confirmed that the team would be cautious with his recovery, saying, “I don’t know how bad of a tear he’s got… but he’ll rest up, and he’ll be okay for the back end of the season.”
On the bowling side for St Michael’s, Frostick and Dave Garness were the standout performers, taking 2 wickets each. However, the batting effort fell short, with the Cawley brothers, Mitch and Nick, being the only players to reach double figures, scoring 25 and 21 runs respectively.
This championship victory not only highlights South Wagga’s remarkable growth over the season but also sets a strong foundation for the team’s future endeavors in the sport. As they look ahead, the squad will aim to build on this success and continue their winning streak.
