The Central Coast Rush has claimed the 2019 Plan B Regional Bash crown on the back of a man of the final performance from first-drop Ben Cohen.
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The big-hitting Coasties star blazed 44 from 31 balls to rocket his side to 4-152, the highest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground during Tuesday’s finals of the Country Cricket NSW Twenty20 tournament.
Initially, it didn’t look large enough though, not when ACT skipper Ethan Bartlett promoted himself up up the order for the Aces and promptly went about plundering the Rush attack to all parts of the SCG.
But when Bartlett fell for 38 off 25 balls the Aces battled and ultimately lost 7-25 to be bowled out for 128, 24 runs short of the Rush’s target.
Teenage offie Broc Hardie (3-23) was tremendous for the Central Coast through the middle overs while man of the series Adam Taylor’s left-arm orthodox netted him 3-17 from his four overs.
Taylor finished the tournament with eight wickets at an average of nine, while he also whacked 133 runs at the top of the Rush order throughout the regional bash.
“To my boys, week in, week out you turn up and get the job done, I couldn’t be prouder to be your skipper,” Coasties skipper Peter Gallichan said in his post-match speech.
“This was a once in a life-time event.”
Country Cricket NSW chairman Paul Marjoribanks was thrilled the finals were played at Sydney’s famed cricket ground.
“A big thanks to the SCG Trust for putting this match on,” he said.
“We had a couple of false starts with a few venues and a few different dates but to get it on here at the SCG is a big win for country cricket.”