REDLANDS Tigers have broken a 21 year drought to claim the premier grade one day final at Allan Border Field.
The game was littered with recognisable names on both sides. Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Pierson and Simon Milenko played for Redlands and Joe Burns, Nathan Hauritz, Tom Healy and Nathan McSweeney lined up for Norths.
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Norths batted first and posted a mammoth 6/323, with McSweeney scoring 115, Healy 68, Burns 55 and Redlands' James Bazley claiming 3/65.
With the track looking like a runway, most in the know would say that was just above a par score.
Redlands' innings started with the loss of Peirson and Australian star Labuschagne for single digit scores and at 2/12 there would have been some Norths followers smiling.
But the depth at Redlands Tigers this season is outstanding.
Sam Heazlett carried his bat scoring 137* from 119 deliveries, an innings that actually saw him take the back seat while Tigers captain Simon Milenko obliterated the attack with a blistering 82 (38), setting the scene for an interesting run chase.
The loss of Simon Milenko saw Leigh Drennan come to the crease at 3/130 and with the commentators suggesting the chase could be a stretch for the Redlands batting line up.
Sam Heazlett and Leigh Drennan crafted a perfect partnership, chasing down the total with 46 balls to spare and putting on an incredible 196 run stand to win the grand final.
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