GSCA 2025-26: Kendenup douse Green Range Ongerup hopes and clinch first Twenty20 title after final-over drama

Kendenup made up for the disappointment of losing their one-day preliminary final by clinching a dramatic Great Southern Cricket Association Twenty20 title under the lights at Katanning on March 11. They beat Green Range-Ongerup by eight runs, defending their total of 121 all out as their opponents ran out of overs at 7-113 — victims of a thrilling final spell in which Seb Ballard engineered the taking of three wickets in five of the last six balls. It was Kendenup’s first triumph in the T20 competition. The drama started during the Green Range-Ongerup chase, when they were making good progress at 3-105. Kyran Brooks and Tristan Ballard were at the crease when the sprinklers suddenly burst into action, dousing the Kendenup fielders and halting the game. Once they were turned off and the proceedings resumed, it all started to go wrong for Green Range-Ongerup. Tristan Ballard and Kyran Brooks were going well and were still in partnership as the 19th over started and their side were 108 runs to the good. However, Tristan Ballard was removed for 17, caught by Darcy Roberts off the bowling of Jakob Douglas, and only two runs were added in the process. Needing 11 runs off the final over to tie, and with six wickets in hand, everything still seemed possible. However, the last over had Green Range-Ongerup in a tailspin as they lost three wickets – two to bowler Seb Ballard and a run-out – gaining only three runs and handing the title to Kendenup. Seb Ballard’s last over was a beauty. He caught and bowled Hamish Medway with his first ball before Kyran Brooks grabbed a couple of runs off his second. His third gave Brooks another run – but Caleb House, dashing to the other end, was run out by Jakob Douglas, assisted by Roberts. That brought in Callan Tonkin who survived one ball before being bowled the next, giving Charan Reddy Sama one ball to face when all was lost. Seb Ballard’s final over contributed to his overall figures of 3-19 overall. Put in earlier by Green Range-Ongerup, the Kendenup innings did not get the best of starts as Roberts was bowled for a duck by Sama, but Seb Ballard (29) and Jakob Douglas (29) got things moving along nicely. House bowled Ballard to bring James Douglas to the crease, and he added 14 before he was dispatched by Tonkin, while Jakob Douglas was caught by Ben Hislop off Sama. After that, Kendenup collapsed, Jack Horrocks providing the only glimmer of hope before he was run out for 17. Their 121 total looked a dicey one to defend but Green Range-Ongerup opener Dylan Brooks was caught and bowled by Seb Ballard for one and then Jarrad Offer was removed for 15. Ben Hislop was bowled by Beau Sobey for 28 but it was Kyran Brooks who did most for the Green Range-Ongerup cause. He remained unbeaten throughout the carnage, his 37 coming off 36 balls. Tonkin was the best of the Green Range-Ongerup bowlers, taking 3-24 while Sama’s 2-14 was also useful, but fruitless in the end.