A COURAGEOUS comeback by Bomaderry's batsmen sealed their third win of the 2019/20 Shoalhaven District Cricket Association on Saturday, as they downed Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemens by two wickets.
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Coming into the match off back-to-back wins, the hosts at Hayden Drexel Oval won the toss and elected to bat first.
When they lost both openers Chris Bramley (12) and Daniel Gleeson (five) cheaply and fell to 2/18, it appeared to be the wrong decision.
But Sam Watts was then joined by in-form batsman Corey Evans in the middle - who made 86 in his Ex-Servos debut last round.
The pair combined for 74 before Watts fell for 32, off the bowling of Ben King-Gee.
Blake Munilla then came and went for one, becoming King-Gee's second victim.
But Evans and Manning Berry showed their class as the crease, combining for a 110-run fifth-wicket partnership.
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Ex-Servos were cruising with these two at the crease but when Berry fell for 62 - with the score on 208 - it halted the hosts' momentum.
Sam Bagnall (two) and Nathan Tyrrell (two) both fell cheaply before Brandon Booth (four not out) played his role in helping Evans chalk up his maiden SDCA ton.
Evans hit 11 boundaries and two sixes on his way to his unbeaten 110, as the hosts finished their 45 overs at 7/245.
With the white ball, the Tigers were led by Michael Coulter (3/40) and King-Gee (2/27) - with Kyle Jarrett (1/46) and Kealen Blattner (1/51) chipping in with one each.
In reply, the visitors slumped to 2/5 after Ben Lahene (one) and Cameron Fernie (zero) were dismissed early.
But Kyle Jarrett (57) and Ryan Henry (34) then put on a 122-run partnership - to give them the upper hand in their rain-affected rain chase (223 off 41 overs).
Skipper Zac Blattner then hit a powerful 55 before his brother Kealen smashed 35 off 13 balls to put the Tigers in the box seat.
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So much so, they needed one run off the final three balls with Matt Hiriart (zero) on strike and King-Gee (13 not out) at the non-striker's end.
Hiriart played and missed on the first two, which saw captain Daniel Gleeson bring all his field in.
On the final ball of the innings from Tyrrell, Hiriart made contact and took off on the winning single.
Just when it appeared as though Hiriart would be run out, there was a misfield by the hosts, which allowed him and King-Gee to make it through safely - finishing at 8/224.
In the defeat, Ex-Servos were best served by Evans (2/67), Gleeson (1/21), Berry (1/35) and Tyrrell (1/37) with the ball.
In round seven, Ulladulla United had the bye.