A JAKE Hindmarsh hat-trick helped Wagga Sloggers to a 51-run victory over Murrumbidgee Rangers in Sunday’s Regional Bash at Robertson Oval.
A Hindmarsh hat-trick late in the day was one of a few highlights for the home team as they proved too good for the Rangers in an entertaining Twenty20 clash.
Wagga finished with 6-193 from their 20 overs, courtesy of a quickfire 64 off 43 balls from Josh Thompson at the top of the order.
The Rangers started the chase well but were gradually tied down and finished 9-142.
Wagga will now progress to the next round and meet Albury next month, after they beat Southern Riverina last Sunday.
Wagga captain Joel Robinson labelled it a real team performance.
“Everyone chipped in,” Robinson said.
“Even our last over, Jono and Brayden hit 19 of the last over, all those things count.
“Out of the 20 overs, we probably had five really big overs that helped set it up.
“I actually didn’t think we bowled that well but we got the result.
Out of the 20 overs, we probably had five really big overs that helped set it up.
- Joel Robinson
“Once we got one breakthrough we knew we would be right. We probably had a little bit more depth, we had a lot of bowlers and tried to mix our bowlers up and that probably worked.”
Thompson was well supported by Jordan Lawrence (31) at the top of the order, while Brayden Ambler scored valuable late runs to finish unbeaten on 27.
Paul Plummer was Murrumbidgee’s best bowler and finished with 3-34 off four overs.
Hayden Pascoe top scored for the Rangers with 33.
Robinson singled out Thompson for praise.
“He smashed them,” he said.
“And probably to be fair, he would have faced 80 or 90 per cent of the bowling in the first 10 overs, which happens sometimes, and he hit them really well.”
Hindmarsh bowled Simon Mackie with his first dismissal, before Robinson took a classic catch to dismiss Dan Bogie first ball.
Thompson caught Nathan Carn on the boundary to seal Hindmarsh’s hat-trick.
