Barbarians open up race
ZAK DAMARELL collected a rare duck but his Irregulars-Barbarians side cheered him with a superb 36-run win over the Premiership champions Canaccord Genuity Griffins.
It was a result that throws the title chase wide open with Griffins, Cobo and the ‘Baa-Baas’ each having lost once.
After seeing his side defend 135 on a lightning fast outfield, skipper Damarell said he thought the game was won on his side’s convincing powerplays.
‘We got off to a quite good start thanks to Charles [Vorster] and Matt [Stokes] and when we were bowling they were four or five down in the powerplay.
‘The new ball was quite key.
‘It was a quick outfield, but not an easy wicket to score runs on.’
Barbarians got off to a flier with Matt Stokes and Vorster adding 44 inside six overs.
And even after Vorster fell for 26 and Damarell went quickly, Barbarians were able to tick along thanks to the solid efforts of new South African Ben Wentzel with an unbeaten 26.
‘He’s a handy little middle-order player and held it together for us,’ said his captain.
Vorster and spinner Ant Stokes then wrecked the champions’ top order.
In no time Griffins were 36 for five and the game was as good as lost.
Griffins captain Tom Kirk dug in and scored a run per ball 28, but with the Stokes brothers taking six wickets between them, Barbarians were never under threat.
Damarell is enjoying the tough and even Premiership competition this season where all four teams play each other three times.
‘It looks like being a very close league and it is exciting to see it wide open for a change.’
