Twenty20 a knockout

Andrew Mathieson
BARWON cricket region organisers are set to run a Twenty20 knockout competition next season encompassing all clubs from the Geelong, Bellarine, Southern Leigh and Colac cricket associations.
Barwon region chairman Rob Cameron said the initial success of regional qualifiers for Cricket Victoria’s new statewide tournament this week had convinced him of the concept’s future.
Cameron said the region invited last season’s eight grand finalists from its four associations after it was given little time to organise a qualifying tournament involving other clubs.
Cricket Victoria required a representative for its competition by the end of the month.
Cameron, who is also Southern Leigh association president a new competition could involve close to 60 clubs, including GCA division two teams.
Leading GCA Division 2 clubs, Manifold Heights and St Peter’s, missed out this year.
“On short notice, it was just too difficult to include them,” Cameron said.
“But I’m very much in favour that GCA Division 2 should be treated as a fifth competition.”
Several Geelong clubs had already played friendly Twenty20 games earlier in the year after tight water restrictions had cut short their regular season.
“We found that (the friendly competition) created a lot of interest and some discussion,” Cameron said.
Both leading GCA clubs advanced into the semi finals at the expense of the Bellarine rivals.
North Geelong, who hit 161 off its 20 overs, had little trouble in disposing of Ocean Grove in a 52 run win on Tuesday night.
Bellarine club Newcomb made 8/127 on Wednesday but East Belmont cruised past the target with 3.3 overs to spare and four wickets in hand.
North Geelong will now host Winchelsea next Tuesday and East Belmont meets Teesdale at Geelong Cricket Club on Wednesday in the region’s semi finals.
Both Southern-Leigh clubs earned their right after securing wins over two Colac teams last Sunday. The final will be played on November 28.