You could not have scripted a more dramatic afternoon for Queanbeyan at Phillip Oval en route to the club's epic Cricket ACT Twenty20 final win on Sunday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bluebags overcame a semi-final super over in the afternoon against Weston Creek Molonglo, only escaping due to being narrowly superior on the ladder, with scores still even at the conclusion of the super over.
And then only hours later in their final match-up against Western District, who cruised into the decider with a seven-wicket win over Ginninderra, man of the match Nick Broes would courageously level the scores at 168 all for Wests off the final delivery.
The Bathurst native scored an unbeaten 58 in his side's heartbreaking defeat, meaning Queanbeyan skipper Mark Solway and his troops would have to do the super over all over again.
"To be honest it is a bit of a blur for me at the moment, but I definitely know at the time you don't really think about it too much [the second super over]," Solway said.
"You are in the zone, especially being captain, you are looking at fields and that sort of thing, you are not really in the moment [of the scenario] too much, other than the adrenaline is pumping through you.
"Especially that last one [over], we thought we were on top and he [Broes] kept coming back."
However, veteran Mark Higgs would give Queanbeyan a 14-run advantage in the super over, as the ex-New South Welshman blasted 11 off four deliveries, setting Wests a target of 15 to win.
Tyler Van Luin was then handed the ball by Solway and would deliver for his captain, restricting Wests to just six, gifting them their first Cricket ACT Twenty20 title since 2015.
"Tyler [Van Luin] is one of our go-to bowlers and he bowled really well tonight actually in the first 20 overs, so we thought that was the way to go," Solway said.
"I suppose if it goes the other way, you sort of think, 'Great game but no good'. But when you win like that, it is really exciting."
The Bluebags skipper was also pleased with Jordan Hedington's 47 in the first innings, along with the character the experienced Higgs showed throughout the game.
"Hedo [Hedington] has been talking a big game all year so it was about time he produced," Solway laughed.
"And Higgsy, [it's] invaluable having him back. It is not only what everyone sees on the field, but what he offers in the sheds and stuff as well. The bloke's played a lot of cricket and we are learning so much from him."
Solway said the win was a huge achievement for his Queanbeyan side.
"[The title] means heaps, really. We have had a pretty young side for the past few years, being on the fringe, making finals and making a couple of grand finals," he said.
"It obviously means a lot for the boys. We have been saying for a few years now [that we are due]."
