Dramatic club final: Appleby claims one-run win
Appleby beat Waikoikoi by just one run in a low-scoring thriller that involved a roller coaster of emotions that was spread across two days.
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Appleby has won its third straight ILT Premier League title, and it has come on the back of one of Southland club cricket’s most dramatic finals.
Appleby beat Waikoikoi by just one run in a low-scoring thriller that involved a roller coaster of emotions which were spread across two days.
The 2024-2025 decider was supposed to be played on Saturday but rain in Invercargill eventually prompted the decision to postpone it to Sunday.
That’s when things got really interesting.
Appleby won the toss and chose to bat first at Queens Park before Waikoikoi’s Ryan McFaul ran through the Appleby top-order in impressive fashion.
McFaul took the first five wickets to fall finishing with five for 28 from his 10 overs.
The rest of the Waikoikoi did not let up either which included Jared McKenzie taking three for 11 as Appleby were skittled for just 101.
At that point, Appleby’s quest for its third straight title looked all but shot with just 101 runs to play with.
However, the moods quickly lifted in the Appleby camp when Kieran Lloyd removed Waikoikoi opener Welby Reed first ball of the innings before Todd Thayer and Ryan McFaul were dismissed in quick succession.
At three for eight the 102 runs required to win the title seemed a million miles away for Waikoikoi.
Jared McKenzie (14 from 36 balls) and Kurt Thompson (22 from 87 balls) then provided some much-needed stubbornness for Waikoikoi.
With the score at 85 for seven the game hung in the balance before Appleby spinner Aaron Hart then took two wickets in two balls.
It was advantage Appleby.
Waikoikoi needed 17 runs for victory with just one wicket in hand before another curly moment was added to an already intriguing final when rain fell stopping play for a bit.
The two teams eventually returned and Waikoikoi’s final two batsmen Ollie Picken and Jack Hilton went about trying to knock off the 17 runs needed.
The pair looked well in control in amongst the tense scenes getting through to 100, one run shy of Appleby’s total of 101.
Picken, who had batted superbly, then attempted to loft spinner Aaron Hart over mid-off to claim the win. However, he instead came up short lofting the ball to veteran Jamie Clark who took the winning catch.
It sparked jubilant scenes from the Appleby players and supporters and dished up heartache amongst the Waikoikoi players and supporters.
In that one moment, the highs and lows of sport were offered up for all to see.