It’s hard to imagine the inaugural Dubbo Premier League being any better than it was.
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Each Twenty20 match seemed to be more evenly-contested than the last, culminating in an incredible grand final which was decided by a six on the last ball.
On top of that, the tournament did just what it intended to by bringing people together and promoting inclusion through cricket.
Sanu Joy, one of the organisers of the tournament and also a player in the victorious Dubbo Rhinos side, said every person from player of the final Anoop Ak through to those who cooked for the visitors who came from far and wide, deserved a huge amount of praise.
“It was just all about teamwork,” he said.
“Whether it was in the game or outside it, it was never a one-man show.
“Unity is strength. That’s what it’s all about and when we stick together we can achieve our goals.”
That ability cricket has of uniting people is what Joy and his fellow organisers wanted to harness.
And with roughly 200 people from all communities and all walks of life watching on when Sunday’s grand final was played, it was clear that had been achieved.
From the friends and families of those players from grand finalists Dubbo Rhinos and Dubbo Markhors, through to visiting players from Newcastle and Penrith, and those living around South Dubbo Oval who were curious to see what the fuss was all about, the grand final had them all hooked.
The Markhors, having beaten the much-fancied Newcastle Blasters in the preliminary final, made a fine start in the big one and raced to 3-51 after 10 overs.
The stage was set for the middle order to take off in the second half of the innings but one brilliant over from Joy dismantled things.
A hat-trick and four wickets in five balls completely changed the game as the Markhors fell for just 97 and Joy claimed 4-20 from three.
The Rhinos, unbeaten heading into the decider, didn’t begin well and slumped to 2-17 from five.
That turned into 3-42 after 10 and at the 15 over mark things weren’t a great deal better at 5-59.
Captain Anoop Ak was holding the innings together but when departed for a well-made 36 in the 18th over there was still 21 runs needed off 15 balls.
It came down to the last over with 16 runs needed but in the most amazing of finales, Edwin Jacob blasted a six and a bnoundary before Pramod launched a match-winning six into the crowd on the final ball to spark celebrations.
“It was an absolutely outstanding game and all the supporters, there would have been about 170 there, were all up on their toes at the end,” Joy said.
“It was good because our boys organised the it and they managed to win it.
“But the number of people who came and supported was unbelievable.
“The aim was to being people together and have fun and we achieved that.”