Captain Charlie Hinze inspired his Gorillas team to a hat-trick of Futures League titles with a stellar performance to defeat first time finalists Dragons as Coach Vinay Iyer continued his love affair with this tournament.

With his team reeling at 23 for three after five overs, Hinze combined with vice-captain Kento Ota-Dobell (38) in a partnership of exactly 100 from just 80 balls to lead a recovery to 135 for seven from their 20 overs.

Hinze struck three maximums on his way to compiling 66 from 45 balls as the two leaders first rebuilt and then unleashed the fury on the Dragons bowlers.

Max Yonekawa-Lynn (two for 18) then continued the momentum with the ball, and in partnership with Ota-Dobell (one for six), the Gorillas new ball bowlers struck three times in the first four overs. Hinze  (two for five) then took over to grab two more and leave the Dragons 34 for five in the ninth.

Skyler Nakayama-Cook excelled behind the stumps, with two catches and two stumpings in the first five wickets to fall, making sure he was just as involved as the bowlers.

Dylan Fujioka Fletcher top scored for the losing team in the final for the second year running, and he kept the Dragons hopes alive with a 37-ball 45, but his dismissal in the 16th over, to a wonder-catch by Ota-Dobell, all but sealed victory for the Gorillas, who would eventually take the 10th wicket with 112 runs on the board to win by 23 runs.

The Gorillas had booked their place in the final in the morning thanks to a stunning nine-wicket win over the Turtles, a result that relegated the latter from overnight leaders and into the third place playoff.

Batting first the Turtles had posted a reasonable total of 121 for five, thanks to more runs for Kazumasa Hiratsuka (44) while Masato Morita’s three for 25 did most of the damage with the ball.

Aaryan Waduge then got his team off to a flyer, crashing a 32-ball half century in a partnership of 92 from 69 balls with Nakayama-Cook (46*).

In the other morning game the Dragons made their first ever final by suffocating the suffering Vipers with tight bowling and excellent fielding. Their total of 101 for seven didn’t look enough, but the Vipers lacked venom in the chase and slithered to 66 for seven from their 20 overs as the Dragons won by 35 runs to top the table.

In the third place play off the Turtles rediscovered their form from Day One to win by 22 runs and leave the Vipers winless for the weekend. Gabby Hinze grabbed five for 22 inn the first innings as the Vipers bowled the Turtles all out for 142, but despite an entertaining 25 from just six balls from Rizwan Khan, the Turtles bowlers restricted them to 120 for nine as Nihar Parmar took three for seven to go with his first innings 31.

A big thank you to current South African international Tony De Zorzi who, in partnership with Ikigai Sports was on hand to hand out the trophies.

Match Summaries:

• 19th April (Saturday) 10:30 – Turtles vs Dragons (Turtles won by 6 runs)
• 19th April (Saturday) 10:30 – Gorillas vs Vipers (Gorillas won by 9 wickets)
• 19th April (Saturday) 14:30 – Dragons vs Gorillas (Dragons won by 32 runs)
• 19th April (Saturday) 14:30 – Turtles vs Vipers (Turtles won by 7 wickets)
• 20th April (Sunday) 10:30 – Dragons vs Vipers (Dragons won by 35 runs)
• 20th April (Sunday) 10:30 – Gorillas vs Turtles (Gorillas won by 9 wickets)
• 20th April (Sunday) 14:30 – Third Place (Turtles won by 22 runs)
• 20th April (Sunday) 14:30 – Final (Gorillas won by 23 runs)

Highlights:

Dragons vs Vipers

Dragons vs Gorillas (Final)

Awards:

• Best Batter: Kazumasa Hiratsuka (101 runs @ 33.67)
• Best Bowler: Charlie Hinze (9 wickets @ 3.57 economy)
• MVP: Charlie Hinze (92 runs & 9 wickets)

Final Standings:

1. Gorillas
2. Dragons
3. Turtles
4. Vipers