Locals win state champs

Cricket National Inclusion Championships

BY TOM HAYES

LOCALimpaired cricketers,Justin Morgan and Ben Morrison, were recently apart of the National Cricket Inclusion Championship winning Victoria Deaf on February 10.

Morgan currently plays at Meerlieu, and spent the previous three seasons at Heyfield, while Morrison plays at Morwell.

Facing off in the Grand Final, Victoria were handed with the task of defeating Queensland for all of the marbles.

Queensland defeated Victoria in Round 2ofthe competition by 14 runs.

After losing the toss, Victoria were thrown in to bat,and listedatfirst drop wasMorgan, who had to wait alittle longer than expected to get to the crease.

Thanks to a105-runopening partnership, Morgan was introduced to the crease with the total in good shape.

Although for him, it was over before he knew it, after he was dismissed LBW for agolden duck.

Thankfully, he wasn’t the only batter to drop first delivery,asitwas witnessed later on whenThomas Robertson did the same.

Morrison wasn’t needed with the bat.

Victoria posted awell-orchestrated total of 7/172 from their 20-over allotment, needing to apply the pressure to hold on.

Queensland experienced adifficult start to their innings, with two wickets falling in quick succession.

Morgan managed to take the catch for the first wicket, setting the tone for the Victorians.

The third-wicket partnership for Queensland steadied the ship, but when the thirdwicket fell, so didthe run-rate.

By the time Queensland’sovers were expiring,it was evidentthat they wereshort,finishing14runs behind -the same margin they defeated Victoria by earlier in the competition.

Morrison was one of the more economical Victorian bowlers, with figures of 0/8 from two overs.

Victoria’s Deaf team returns home from Queenslandwith the trophy, after afive-dayfrenzy

Morgan completed his campaign with 124 runs from sixfixtures, the third-most runs throughout the competition.

Excluding the Grand Final, Morgan impressively had the highestbattingaverage of anyonethat playing four or more games.

Morrison claimedthree wickets from his 13 overs throughout the tournament.