The Mackay Cricket Dixon Homes T20 Shootout season came to a close on Saturday with a double header on Great Barrier Reef Arena, headlined by the Division 1 decider between Pioneer Valley and Magpies.
Pioneer Valley picked up the bat first after winning the toss, with openers Jack Sambell and Mitchell English forming a solid opening partnership.
Sambell was the first to go, departing for 23 runs off 21 deliveries in the fifth over, with bowler Todd Dixon striking again on the very next ball.
English went on to top score with 30 runs off 28, with the rest of the order struggling to keep the scoreboard ticking, leaving Pioneer Valley with 7/98 from 20 overs.
Dixon led the bowling attack finishing his four overs on 3/20, while Liam Zurvas and Andrew Borg both finished the innings with a wicket each and two run outs accounting for the other two wickets.
Magpies had an equally shaky innings, with only number five batsman Jaxn Sign getting settled at the crease.
Sign top scored with 35 off 49 not out and was assisted by Kai Higham with 14 and Blake Ryan with 13 in chasing down the total, reaching 7/99 with one ball remaining.
Alistair Houghton, Timothy Cridland and Cody Filewood finished with two wickets each and English with one, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
Another extremely close game was played out earlier in the afternoon, with the Division 2 final between Pioneer Valley and Norths playing out in an eerily similar fashion.
Pioneer Valley again won the toss and chose to bat, with openers Haiden Mellifont and Cooper Spencer top scoring with 37 and 32 respectively, helped by Dean Zeller with 19 to get the batting side to a respectable 8/150.
Ashley Murphy did the damage with the ball for Norths, finishing with three wickets and assisted by Lachlan Brett and Christopher Bell with two each.
After losing the early wicket of Chris Day, Norths took on the chase calmly and efficiently, with a 50 from Shawn Day, 32 from Daniel Tatow and 30 from Russel Counsell helping them to 4/151, again with one ball to spare.
One wicket each for B Reginato and H Kirkwood and two run outs gave Pioneer Valley a chance, but Norths held on, scoring the winning runs with a thick edge past the keeper.
Magpies defeated Pioneer Valley in a closely fought Division 1 final
Pioneer Valley and Norths faced off in the Division 2 final, with Norths finishing on top. Photos supplied
