NORTHERN Districts skipper Matt Salakas says the maturity of his young players is at the forefront in the club’s first shot at a trophy for five years in Sunday’s Twenty20 decider against Helensburgh.
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The Butchers have three teams in the T20 finals, with top grade taking on last season’s finalists Helensburgh (3pm) at North Dalton Park, while in second grade the Butchers face Keira (12.15pm) and in fourth grade Butchers Gold take on Keira Red (1-0.30am).
Corrimal face Wests Illawarra the third grade T20 decider (9.15am).
Northern Districts lost their first two games in the five round series before three straight wins clinched second spot in their pool.
The Butchers chased down Port’s 4/136 in the semi-final, with Lachlan Dunn smashing an unbeaten 88 off just 44 balls and with Salakas (41 off 39) put on an opening standing of 117.
Salakas admits at the start of the season he did not rate his team a better T20 outfit than in the longer formats, but the gradual improvement from the young first graders has been evident in the purple patch in form.
‘‘The young guys have now had a taste of first grade for two or three seasons and realise they belong there,’’ Salakas said.
‘‘We’re so so in the premiership but the improvement is there. We’ve won three (T20) games to get to the semis and certainly the confidence is building. The younger guys have stepped up and it’s a big moment for the club to get to a final.
‘‘A bit of success gives everyone self belief we can set our sights on a trophy.’’
Opener Lachlan Dunn has been the most destructive batsman in T20 this season, with match-winning knocks the past three games, including the semi-final.
Dunn blasted 52 off just 28 balls in the nine wicket round four demolition of Keira, then belted 74 off 54 balls in the seven wicket win over Dapto, and in the best knock of the competition, hammered 88 off 44 balls including six sixes against Port in the semi.
In the Butchers four straight wins they have batted second and lost just seven wickets combined.
‘‘When Lachie gets on a roll it’s been hard to stop and his batting has been outstanding for us,’’ Salakas said.
‘‘We like to chase and our bowlers have done a great job is holding teams to a gettable target. We’ve backed ourselves and we’ll need to lift again against the Burgh who are best team in the comp on paper.’’
The Butchers and Helensburgh are chasing their first T20 title in the competition’s 10th season, with the Burgh beaten by Corrimal in last season’s final.
