By ROY WARD
LYNDALE has had a major boost before the Churchill Maintenance and Fabrication DDCA Twenty20 grand final on Wednesday night.
Premier Cricket all-rounder and former Dales junior Dale Tormey has returned for the rest of the DDCA season.
Tormey has left Premier Cricket club Fitzroy-Doncaster and will play in all the Turf 2 ladder leader’s remaining matches as the Dales strive for an upset win in the Twenty20 final against turf 1 club Buckley Ridges and also promotion to turf 1.
Tormey had played with the Dales during the Twenty20 competition as their marquee player.
Dales captain-coach Rory Ingram said the club was buoyed by Tormey’s return.
“He has resigned from Premier Cricket and played his first game for us in a one-dayer on January 19. He is a good inclusion to the side.”
After falling short in the Twenty20 semi-finals last year, the Dales have managed to go one better this season in making the final. Ingram said his team used its batting prowess and some disciplined spin bowling to get itself into winning positions.
Jaimie Brohier, Carmen Mapatuna, Tormey and all-rounder Richie Faust have all played key roles.
Mapatuna’s leg spin has been especially effective. “Carmen has been a good asset to the club with his batting and his leg spin. It’s an advantage in this competition as not many sides have a good leg spinner.”
But the Dales face a tough task to beat the Ridges, the leading Twenty20 side in the DDCA for several seasons with success at state level and in local matches.
Ingram said his side looked forward to the battle. “I think we’ve got a good, balanced team that’s good enough to get the job done. Having said that, Buckley Ridges is a turf 1 club and a powerhouse in the DDCA, so it will take a lot to beat them, especially on their home ground.
“Hopefully it will be a great game and a special occasion for our club and for all our supporters.”
DDCA Twenty20 grand final
Where: Park Oval, Pultney Street, Dandenong.
When: Wednesday (30 January) night, 5.15pm
Prizes: Winner $1000, runner-up $600.
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