A hat-trick to English import Steven Sandhu turned the game in Sydenham-Hillside’s favour in a 65-run win over Barkly Street Uniting in the VTCA north A1 at Hillside Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Storm had a mere 186 runs to play with, which captain Kane Twentyman admitted was touch and go to defend.
But with Sandhu producing his most devastating spell of bowling on Australian soil, it was more than enough for the Storm to register a comfortable win.
“I thought if they got a couple of partnerships together they might get on top of us,” Twentyman said.
“As it turned out, we put the screws on nice and early.
“Steve went berserk for 10 balls, taking 4-2, including a hat-trick.
“That put us on the front foot from there because they were 2-50 and all of a sudden 6-52.”
Sandhu has been a fine acquisition for Sydenham-Hillside this summer.
The all-rounder had shown plenty with both bat and ball, but his bowling performance was one out of the box.
The hat-trick ball is obviously one that spectators aren’t likely to forget, but Sandhu’s post hat-trick celebration is also one that will stay in the memory.
“Steve took the first wicket of his hat-trick off the last ball of an over, then I bowled from the other end and nothing too exciting happened,” Twentyman said.
“Steve got a wicket first ball of his next over and then we set the field, a couple of guys in close on the leg side, a couple in close on the off, five slips, two gullies, all that sort of stuff, and Steve made him play, bowled a really good back-of-a-length ball at the top of the stumps. The bloke had to play at it and hit a lollipop to one of the guys in close.
“It was like a training catch; just hit it straight to the bloke. Steve nearly did a lap of the oval to celebrate, we couldn’t catch him!”
Sandhu finished with his first five-for for Sydenham-Hillside.
He also made 28 for his low-scoring side, leaving no doubt over the awarding of man of the match honours.
“He’s had a day out,” Twentyman said.
“The young fella can play and we’re happy that he’s playing with us.
“He’s six-foot-five so he gets good purchase and bounce off the wicket, and he’s a likeable character whose really starting to fit in with the group.”
Starting Saturday, Sydenham-Hillside will face Sunshine at Dempster Park in the final two-day match before the Christmas break.
Twentyman returns to his former club believing it’s the side to beat this summer.
“It will be interesting playing against the old mob again,” the captain said.
“I’ve go some good friendships there and there will be a bit of banter and a bit of heat in the game, which is a good thing. We’ll be up for the challenge.
“I still stand by that; I think they’re the pick of the grade.”
