NY Kookaburras Book Berth in Club's First WSL Grand Final!

NY Kookaburras 6/150 (31.3) (N.Kelland 48, Cole 22, List 18*, Balani 17) prevailed against Mad Dogs CC (10/149) (Sinclair 3/20, Preddey 3/27, Worsley 2/36) in a tense semi-final contest played at Mad Dog Park in Stamford CT to book a place in the club’s first ever WSL grand final. Man of the Match: N. Kelland 48 (38).

After finishing the home and away season in 3rd place on the ladder, the NY Kookaburras ventured to Stamford, CT to take on 2nd-placed Mad Dogs CC at the opposition’s home ground. Having missed out on WSL finals the last couple of seasons, the Kookas were out to make the most of the 2024 post-season. Kookas’ skipper Preddey won the toss and sent Mad Dogs CC in to bat. The pace of Saady and left-arm finger spin of Balani combined to take the new ball and toiled hard without luck as Mad Dogs made their way to 0/45 off 8 overs before the Kookas’s skipper came in to the attack in the 9th over. Preddey wasted no time getting in to the action, claiming wickets with the 2nd and 4th balls of his spell. Preddey combined with the swing bowling of Worsley at the other end who took two wickets of his own in the ensuing overs to have the opposition at 4/81 at drinks. Mad Dogs’ hard-hitting opening batsman Prasanna sought to extend the opposition’s innings in the overs after drinks - the Kookas knew his wicket was an important one to get. In Preddey’s final over, the skipper managed to pull off a miraculous caught and bowled to dismiss the opposition’s key batsman on 69 and end his spell with figures of 3/27 off 6 overs. The line and length of Sinclair in the 2nd half of the innings proved invaluable in building pressure on the opposition, earning the left-arm quick figures of 3/20 off 6 overs. Worsley (2/36), Saady (1/25) and Balani (1/35) shared the rest of the wickets as the Kookas were set a total of 150 off 35.0 overs to book a place in the club’s first WSL grand final - a tricky total to chase on a relatively slow outfield.

It didn’t take long for chaos and controversy to erupt in the Kookas’ run chase as Saady, backing up at the non-strikers end, became the subject of an attempted Mankad. While there was no doubt Saady was out of his crease, heated debate ensued as players and umpires turned to their rulebooks. After much discussion, the laws of cricket (and arguably the spirit of the game) suggested that the non-striker remain out in the middle. Saady’s reprieval was short-lived, however, as the tall left-handed opener succumbed to the temptation of a short leg-side boundary, playing across the line of a delivery before it cannoned into his middle stump. The Kookas top order managed to compile a number of starts (Slade 14, Preddey 9, Cole 22, Balani 17) but tight bowling from the opposition denied the Kookas the ability to establish any meaningful partnerships. Wickets fell in seemingly regular intervals with the Kookas finding themselves at 5/77 at drinks and bookmakers favoring Mad Dogs for the win. After drinks, Jake List and Nick Kelland combined together in the middle to put on one of the greatest 6th wicket partnerships in the club’s history. Despite Mad Dogs throwing everything at the duo, they were unable to pierce List’s impenetrable defense or curtail Kelland’s free-flowing stroke making. List and Kelland managed to wrestle the match back in the Kooka’s favor, with List ending unbeaten on 18* while Kelland amassed 48 off 38 deliveries (including 4 sixes). Worsley joined List in the middle to help guide the Kookas to their 150 run target and secure a spot in next week’s WSL grand final.

Full Scorecard: https://cricclubs.com/wsl/viewScorecard.do?matchId=289&clubId=5912