WAGGA Sloggers batsman Ethan Bartlett unleashed a devastating display of power-hitting to knock the Border Bullets out of the Regional Bash series at Wagga’s Robertson Oval on Sunday.
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It’s easily the best knock I have seen. He went absolutely ballistic.
- Border Bullets opener Matt Crawshaw
Bartlett hammered 117 off 56 balls as the Sloggers chased down 9-174 with ease.
The Canberra club cricketer hit eight sixes in the seven-wicket win to send his team to the SCG on December 11.
Bartlett clubbed 23 runs off one Dilhara Lokuhettige over as he charged to the highest score in Regional Bash history.
He and Josh Thompson put on 141 runs for the opening stand to stun the defending champions.
St Patrick’s opener Matt Crawshaw, who topscored for the Bullets with 61, said Bartlett was unstoppable as Wagga chased down the score with 11 balls to spare.
“It was unreal,” Crawshaw said.
“It’s easily the best knock I have seen.
“He went absolutely ballistic.
“We thought 170 was going to make a good game of it, but that’s as good a run chase as you will see.
“Full credit to them as they batted really well.”
The Border Bullets put themselves in a winning position courtesy of good knocks from Crawshaw (61), Tom Sole (30), Alex Popko (21), Matt Armstrong (19) and Jack Craig (19 not out).
They smashed 34 off the maxi over (double runs) with Scottish import Sole peppering the boundary with a range of shots.
But Wagga responded brilliantly with the writing on the wall early after Bartlett helped the Sloggers to 0-26 off the opening two overs.
He continued the onslaught until the dying overs when he was caught on the boundary attempting to bring up the winning runs.
Wagga will play Orana in the semi-finals.
