ULLADULLA United continued their fine one-day form by defeating Bomaderry by two runs in their Twenty20 clash last Saturday.
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The heart-stopping win by United concluded a stirring match with a dynamic finish after Ulladulla won the toss and batted.
Openers Aaron Wester and skipper Harley Bell looked confident from the outset with both playing their shots.
Through swift and sure running, the pair made sure they took full value for every scoring stroke.
Wester found gaps in the field with stylish off and cover-drives from the speedsters. However, he profited little from spin which ultimately led to his demise.
He was on 15 and looking set for a big score when he was caught at mid-wicket after a mistimed hook.
Skipper Bell played stoutly and his main scoring strokes were drives, hooks and pulls before he relaxed his concentration and was caught a mid-wicket for 27 attempting a hook over mid-wicket’s head.
In-form left-hander Sam Lee continued to impress with another valuable stay at the crease for his important 41-run contribution.
Powerful driving, clever placing to leg, and accurate cutting marked his presence with Bell and later Walker in creating and maintaining partnerships.
Lee exercised considerable caution early in his innings but once he had a good look at the Bomaderry spin bowling attack, he showed consummate skill by driving straight and cutting ruthlessly.
The last coupling of Lee and George Walker (15) proved irritating for the Bomaderry attack as both players sneaked singles.
They mostly punished short and overpitched deliveries for their 28-run partnership before United’s batting fell away strangely after a good start to draw stumps at 6 for 115.
Bomaderry in reply, went as quickly as they could for victory.
Some huge hitting by the home side saw no loss for 76 runs, before a procession of Bomaderry players found their way back into the pavilion.
United’s leggie Wester brilliantly took 2 for 19 and was sensationally supported by off-spinner Bell, who beyond everything else, removed the middle-order for 4 for 17.
Bomaderry rallied later in the closing stages but fell narrowly short to be 9 for 113.
This Saturday at Haydon Drexell Oval, the United first grade lads face Ex-Servicemen’s in another vital one-day match.
They are steadily improving their position as a semi-final prospect and possibly a premiership contender before the two-day matches arrive in the new year.
