Regional Bash Finals Light Up North Sydney

The early days of this week have seen some of the state’s best regionally based cricketers converge on North Sydney Oval for the finals of the men’s and women’s Regional Bash.

Monday saw the Women’s Regional Bash decided, with two semi finals played before the two winners faced off under lights.

This year’s edition was the first time that the finals day had been overseen by an all-female umpire panel, with six of the state’s best female umpires appointed to oversee the matches.

The morning semi-final featured the undefeated Newcastle Blasters and the ACT Aces, with the umpires being Sydney-based Sue Gregory and Elisabeth Houston, who umpires in the Newcastle DCA competition.

The Central Coast Rush and the Riverina Bullets contested the afternoon semi-final, which was overseen by NSW Premier Cricket umpires Alicia Humphrey and Leone Mizzi.

The Final was an all-Pool B affair with the Riverina Bullets and the ACT Aces facing off for the Women’s Regional Bash title, with the Bullets emerging triumphant in a tight contest.

Illawarra-based Lauren McGill and Premier Cricket’s Elizabeth O’Dwyer were appointed to the final, O’Dwyer officiating the final for the second year in a row.

The men’s side of the draw was decided yesterday with the finals played under the same format.

The two semi-finals were both officiated by Murray Le Lievre and Phil Rainger, who umpire in Wagga Wagga and Newcastle respectively.

The morning semi-final saw the Newcastle Blasters line up against the Border Bullets, with the Central West Wranglers playing the Coffs Coast Chargers for the second spot in the final.

Under lights, it was the Newcastle Blasters and the Central West Wranglers who competed for the Plan B Regional Bash title, with the Blasters winning by five wickets.

In the middle for the final was Western Zone’s Graeme Glazebrook and Riverina Zone’s Jeff Egan.

For Glazebrook, it was his sixth-consecutive appointment to the final of the Regional Bash – whilst it was Egan’s first, coming in his first season on the Country Panel and after overseeing the Country Championships Final in December.

The umpires across both days were observed and assisted by Match Referees Graham Chudleigh (Women’s) and Neil Findlay (Men’s).

Photo: Officiating umpires from the men’s and women’s finals: Jeff Egan, Neil Findlay, Graeme Glazebrook, Lauren McGill and Elizabeth O’Dwyer // Bede Sajowitz