FORGET the Brisbane Heat's Bash Brothers, on Wednesday night the St Pat's Old Boys top order had a Twenty20 royal rumble.
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Between them Bailey Brien, Tanvir Singh and Connor Slattery belted 147 runs off 114 deliveries at Wade Park to help the Saints to a 28-run victory over Bathurst City in their Royal Hotel Cup match.
The trio blasted a total of 17 boundaries, while both Slattery and Singh had shots clear the rope as the Saints replaced the Redbacks in the top four.
While Saints captain Adam Ryan had given his top order the goal of reaching 160 runs - a mark his side fell just short of due to some good bowling in the final overs from Redbacks - he was still delighted with what unfolded.
"I gave the openers two jobs, Bailey had the job to bat for 20 overs, fill that anchor type role, and everyone else was to play a bit more aggressive around it. It was one of those times that my game plan as captain came off," Ryan said.
"They batted superbly, really smart. They really picked their balls and waited for their opportunities and they did't give any chances.
"I was aiming to be 160 plus given our start, but they were pretty tight with their bowling. They were pretty good at bowling full and straight and restricting us, so it was a credit to them to keep us under that."
They batted superbly, really smart. They really picked their balls and waited for their opportunities and they did't give any chances.
- Adam Ryan
While the Saints' Royal Hotel Cup defence still hangs in the balance - they require Centennials Bulls to beat Lithgow Lightning next Friday and hope they don't do it convincingly - they will have their rivals nervous should they scrape into the semi-finals.
"It was a very big surprise ... we relaxed a bit more because we didn't have any expectations on finals, but now that win has bumped us above Bathurst City," Ryan said.
"There is the possibility, there is a chance now, whereas going into the match we felt we were no chance and just went about our business of trying to win a match just to give us a one-up going into our Saturday cricket.
"If we do get the chance to play finals again it would be nice as we are starting to build a bit more form.
"That game was probably the first time this season in the Twenty20 that our bowling has been on point, we executed the game plan with the ball really well."
Pat's won the toss in the do-or-die affair and elected to bat first, but Redbacks skipper Joey Coughlan got the early breakthrough as he sent opener Andrew Brown (five off six) on his way.
That saw Brien united with Singh and together they swung the momentum.
They lifted the run rate over six before Singh (36 off 24) was trapped leg before wicket by Clint Moxon.
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But Slattery, who played in the Regional Bash semi-final for the Western Wranglers to start the week, continued the Saints' aggression.
Brien (56 off 56) and Slattery (55 off 34) formed an unbeaten 93-run stand for the third wicket to see their side finish its 20 overs at 2-157.
It meant Redbacks needed to score at just under eight runs an over to ensure they would take part in the Royal Hotel Cup semi-finals.
It was a task that proved too much.
Coughlan (27 off 26) did help his side make a good start to the chase, but after he was trapped leg before by Slattery, the Redbacks were unable to form any real threatening partnerships.
Harrison Craig and Moxon each hit 17 off 14, but that was as good as it got for Redbacks as they finished at 8-129.
Slattery backed up his superb knock with an economical 1-13 off four overs, while Ben Parsons (2-33 off four) and Hugh Parsons (2-24 off four) were more expensive but helped wickets fall at regular intervals.
