By Tara Murray
Epping has claimed the Northern Region T20 title after beating Heidelberg in the grand final on Tuesday night.
The Pingers ended up being the last team standing from the Diamond Valley and North Metro cricket associations after beating Heidelberg by nine runs at Epping Recreation Reserve.
Pingers coach Hussain Hanif said he believed it was the first time the club had claimed the T20 title.
There was some doubt earlier in the day whether the game would go ahead with Melbourne’s typical weather on show.
Under competition rules, Epping which was the higher seeded team, would have been the victor had there been no match.
Hanif said despite this, he and the club president had spoke about playing the following week if needed.
It didn’t come to that, with sunshine later in the day meaning the game went ahead.
The Pingers batted first, making 5-138.
It was a score that Hanif was happy with.
“I was really confident,” he said.
“It was a similar score to our semi final win. Anthony Licovski, our skipper in the T20s batted really well at the top of the order making 39.
“He’s batted well all through the competition making 184 runs at an average of 30.
“Tom Emmins then come in and made 45 and really stood up. He’s a confidence sort of player and hopefully this flows on to the Barclay Shield.”
Despite a slump in the middle of their bowling innings, the Pingers were still able to bowl Heidelberg out for 129 on the second last ball.
It was Todd Hughes that was the star with the ball, taking 4-22 off four overs.
While batting is Hughes strength, his bowling has been a key for the Pingers.
He took 13 wickets, equal competition high, at an average of 7.77.
Hanif said the win meant a lot to the club. The side will represent the Northern Region in the Regional Big Bash competition later this year.
“It’s a testament to the work that everyone has put in,” he said.
“It puts Epping and the northern suburbs on the map.
“For the club it is a massive thing. There was juniors, parents, partners and club members all down there to watch it.”
While the Pingers have one title in hand, they are hoping to add another one in the coming weeks.
The Pingers sit second in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Barclay Shield with a round and half remaining.
Hanif said the success in the T20 competition would hopefully bode well for the rest of the Barclay Shield season.
“It gives us a boost and a little bit more experience in tight situations,” he said.
“Hopefully it’ll give some guys who haven’t been playing as well in the Barclay Shield some confidence.
“Todd for an example great player, but he isn’t having the best year. We’ve now got the confidence to give him the ball.”
