In advance of Sponsors & Past Players Day on Saturday, 3rd December 2022, today we’re taking a look back at the 2012/13 B Grade Premiership.
In the grand final Wistow took on Ashbourne on the turf pitch at Ashbourne. After a delayed start due to rain earlier in the day, the match was reduced from 40 to 35 overs per side.
Bowling first, opener Oli Lukins (3/13 off 7) made significant inroads with 3 early wickets to leave Ashbourne in strife at 3/15. Whilst the Bulls fought back well, Wistow continued to chip away with regular wickets to see Ashbourne restricted to 9/134 from their 35 overs with the other major contribution with the ball coming from none other than Jed Cox himself, who finished with 4/34 from 7 overs whilst bowling at the death.
Echidnas’ opener Liam Bentley started the run chase in T20 mode, belting 14 runs from the first over only to be dismissed soon after. Meanwhile, fellow opener Jed Cox held the innings together to top score with 35, however, his innings wasn’t without drama as he may or may not have been directly responsible for running out not one, but two teammates (including star bat Elliot Pryor for 19, who was coming off a century in the SF on his way to season totals of 529 runs at 75.57). Jedi was eventually dismissed to leave the match in the balance with the Echindas at 6/91, requiring a further 44 runs for victory with only 9 overs remaining.
What followed was a strong seventh wicket stand between Dave Lucas (11) and Hayden Bolto (28*) to bring Wistow within grasp of victory before Oli Lukins strode to the crease to hit the winning boundary and see Wistow home with 3 wickets and 10 balls to spare.
This premiership would see long-time Echidna Matthew Hutchinson become the first, and to date only, player in Wistow history to win premierships in each of A (1999/00 & 2002/03), B and C (1997/98) Grade.
We would love to see premiership players Liam Bentley, Jed Cox, Matt Hutchinson, Elliot Pryor, Tom Junes, Roos Brokss, Dave Lucas, Hayden Bolto, Oliver Lukins, Harvey Watson and Jordan Baltman and all other past players up at the Hill on 3rd December to celebrate and re-live the glory days!