HEATH Wadden has done it again to claim the McIntyre Cup for Riddell.
Six years after an inspiring victory at Gilbert Gordon Oval against Woodend in a Gisborne District Cricket Association final, Wadden was again the key at the same venue and opposition on Saturday.
Resuming at 8-132 and still 45 short of Woodend’s 177, Riddell needed something special to pinch the final with the bat. But Wadden produced, making 59 not out to lead Riddell to 9-178 in reply.
Mick Sammut (16) combined with Wadden to take the score to 160 before the former was bowled by Woodend’s Warren Else.
Still 18 away from the target, Wadden took control and hit 15 off the next over before chalking up the match-winning runs soon after.
“There were a couple of close lbw shouts but no dropped catches or anything like that,” Wadden said of the partnership with Sammut.
“Ryan got hit on the toe first ball and was a fair way back…the boys thought it was going down leg but (Woodend) had a bit of a shout on him. He scored two leg-byes at the end of that over.
“When your No.11 comes in and there’s not a lot to play with, I was the one seeing it and decided this was going to be it.”
A shot over mid-wicket and a leading edge through gully were among the shots as Wadden hit 15 off the over.
Hughes then scrambled the winning leg-bye off the fifth ball of Else’s next over.
“For Mickey and Hughesy to come out and knuckle down, and put us over the line, it’s right up there. Being nine down and out there batting, you couldn’t write a better script.”
Elliott Massina (3-22) and Chris Boyer (3-27) were the leading wicket-takers for Woodend.
