Strathdale-Maristians retained its Kookaburra Cup Twenty20 crown with a three-wicket win over Katandra in Sunday evening's final at the QEO.
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After defeating Kangaroo Flat and Sedgwick earlier on Sunday to advance to the grand final, the Suns overcame a late speed hump to be crowned Northern Rivers champions.
The Suns' bowlers restricted Katandra to just 8-98 off their 20 overs
Young off-spinner James Barri took the new ball and did a fine job to concede just 10 runs off his four overs, while Ben DeAraugo (1-9 off three overs) bowled tightly through the middle overs.
In the field the Suns converted three run out opportunities as the visitors struggled to gain any momentum throughout the innings.
Whether the Suns were chasing 99 or 199. Sam Johnston was always going to have the same approach.
In the first over of the Suns' innings he slammed 22 runs and there were two wides from the bowler as well.
Johnston hit the first ball of the innings for four, then there was a dot ball followed by two wides.
The left-hander then pounded six, four, four, four off the final four balls.
He raced to 37 off just 14 balls before being given out lbw.
Jack Neylon then took charge and made his way to 33 off 28 balls.
His dismissal in the 12th over, with only nine runs needed for victory, sparked a late collapse.
Jake DeAraugo fell for a golden duck and three runs later the Suns lost Grant Waldron and Ben DeAraugo in successive balls to be 7-93.
Experienced duo Linton Jacobs and Dylan Bailie kept their head and guided the Suns home with 26 balls to spare.
The Suns advance to the quarter-final stage of the Regional Big Bash.
The Suns are the reigning Regional Big Bash champions. They won the title in the summer of 2019-20 and the competition wasn't played last season because of COVID-19.
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