Following Friday’s downpour which impacted much of the scheduled cricket on the weekend, the Crookwell Golf Club and Workers Stags traveled to Crookwell to escape the damp grounds of Goulburn and play a relaxed, ‘hit-and-giggle’ match. 

With that in mind, Crookwell was certainly giggling when it reached 159 from its 20 overs. Thanks to a strong opening stand between Corey Knight (39) and Marty Travers (44), along with a helpful 38 not out from Jock Cartwright, Crookwell was in the drivers’ seat going in to the second innings. 

It was not long before the Stags were limping at 4-20, and Crookwell looked set to deliver a final blow. However, that was before Daniel Cooper took to the wicket and proceeded to blow the match wide open. 

Cooper’s 98 featured 10 sixes including, Crookwell cricket stalwart Stuart Parsons noted, “four consecutive ones off me.

“I [also] dropped him the ball before,” he added. 

While Parsons didn’t have the best day on the field, Cooper’s innings turned the match into a nailbiting contest.

With two balls to go, the Stags needed one run to win, and they duly achieved victory courtesy of a leg-bye. 

It was a thrilling end to an amazing comeback victory for the Stags, particularly as Crookwell had fielded a relatively strong side, which included former captain Benny Haynes. 

Although the rest of the matches from the first grade T20 tournament were canceled, the Goulburn and District Cricket Association (GDCA) is currently considering options for continuing the competition this Saturday to account for the interruption last weekend, although nothing has been confirmed at this stage. 

The weekend was not a complete disaster for the region’s cricketers. Along with the match in Crookwell, most of the second grade’s T20 fixtures took place at Carr Confoy and North Park.

Highlights from the second grade matches on the weekend include half-centuries from Chris Duffy and Matt Brown, along with strong bowling performances from the Hibo Colts and the Goulburn Soldiers Warriors.

With the first two rounds having been played last weekend, the competition is set to continue with its third and fourth rounds this Saturday, which are once again scheduled for Carr Confoy.  

Third round matches will begin at 11.00am, while fourth round matches are scheduled for 3.00pm on Saturday January 19.