Southern Smash 2024: Retravision Warriors belt record score to claim deserved title over Albany Finance Fury

After years of heartache the Retravision Warriors are finally the Southern Smash champions, breaking through for their maiden title in Albany’s T20 showpiece on Monday, December 30. The Warriors broke the shackles of tricky pitches and slow outfields to clinch the 2024 Southern Smash title, belting the highest final score in the tournament’s six-year history. The Warriors unleashed a flurry of runs on Albany Finance Fury in their final 10 overs to post 7-167 in their brilliant 27-run grand final victory at Turf North. Warriors’ Blair Walsh was named player of the match after he anchored their innings superbly with 69 runs from 55 balls with four fours and one six to help his side plunder 105 runs in the final 10 overs. Former Albany and Districts star Nathan Crudeli (29) and Mt Barker captain Jeremy Wood (17) then provided crucial cameos smacking four sixes and two fours between them to help their side to a more than defendable score. A stellar half-century from Fury’s Simon Budge gave the chase a fair nudge, but after the under-19 Australian wicketkeeper-bat departed the required run rate became too difficult to match. The Warriors ended Fury’s innings by taking 5-14 to start the title celebrations early before Fury finished on 7-140. Warriors skipper Wood said Walsh’s knock was pivotal to their victory and credited his squad for playing to the conditions. “You need someone in these big games to back through like that and (Walsh) set the tone, got himself in, got going, and then really took the game apart when it mattered,” Wood said. “It set up a massive total in the final and then you put the pressure on the other opposition to having the chase and it’s tough chasing that total. “Blokes being able to clear the pickets at the northern end, that was the game. “The power play overs, Ollie (Davidson) bowling the surge with the breeze blowing that way. He was massive all tournament for us, he did such a great job and executed beautifully.” After being tied with a win-loss record of 2-1, the Warriors snuck into the decider after edging out Arc Infrastructure Aces, who were spearheaded by player of the tournament Clint Hinchliffe. Walsh crafted a well-calculated innings with smart running between the wickets alongside Tim Hale (15) before accelerating with Crudeli, Wood and Harry Broomhall (5) in the latter stages. Crudeli’s cavalier 29 came from just 18 balls and included two fours and two sixes, while Wood cleared the rope twice in his 11-ball knock. Warriors opener Viv Paver looked dangerous before an untimely hamstring injury sustained while running between the wickets curtailed his innings of 14 from 11 balls. He soon departed and was unable to field or bowl due to the injury. After winning his third Smash title as captain, Wood had glowing remarks for the tournament which brings international and State-calibre players to the region. “The set up’s magnificent, the people that organise it do such a good job and the spectacle of cricket was awesome for the district and Albany in general,” he said. “It was a really high standard, but it also incorporated the local players to have an effect on the comp so well done to everyone.” Fury’s Liam Want bowled tightly and snared 3-28 from four overs, off-spinner Adam Prowse was economical with 0-22 from four overs and Englishman Myles Davis (2-35) also played an important role. In response, Fury made it through the power play without loss with openers Budge (61) and Garrick Morgan (13) scoring freely before Crudeli broke the partnership. Young Collingwood Park leg spinner Jed Schwarzbach then stepped up in place of the injured Paver by claiming the enormous scalp of WA contracted player Teague Wyllie (3). Australian under-19 all-rounder Luke Holt consolidated with Budge scoring 38 from 29 balls. He hit two sixes and two fours to form a potentially match-defining 65-run third-wicket stand. But pacer Jack Camarda struck to claim the invaluable wicket of Budge and spark the Fury batting collapse. Wood got among the action taking 3-26 from four overs while strike bowler Crudeli finished with 3-28 from four overs.