2013 KATICH CUP: Kellett's Heroics Not Enough For Hawks In Last Ball Thriller

There were flashbacks to 1981 and the Chappell brothers underarm incident when the Hawks required 6 runs off the final ball of the match to draw level in the series against the Falcons on Saturday in the Katich Cup, but the spirit of cricket was at a much higher level in Zagreb than it was in Melbourne back on that day as Falcons bowler Pero Bošnjak managed to do the job to give Falcons a 3-1 series lead.

Hawks captain Douglas Kennedy obviously left his double sided coin at home as he lost the toss for the very first time in the series. Electing to bat first the Falcons got off to a bright start, hard-hitting Krešo Kekez and the ever improving Lloyd Anderson doing the damage at the top, including one big six down the ground from Kekez. Bošnjak and Vicko Tabain continued the momentum for the Falcons with a tidy partnership before it turned into the Conrad Kellett show.

The Hawks right-arm medium pacer became the first bowler in the series to take a hat-trick, finishing with the impressive figures of 4 for -6. Jasen Butković helped the Falcons get back on track with Dominic Čičak, before a last push at the end from Paul Mušin and Luka Papa-Stubbs took their final total to 76. The final total could have been more if it was not for some memorable Hawks catching. A one-handed gem from Lokesh Thandavada, a sharp caught and bowled by Kellet and some genius from Marko "Jonty Rhodes" Mance the stand-outs.

Needing just under 4 runs an over for victory, Hawks openers Kennedy and Ibad Faraqui were cautious as they began the chase. The game however swung hugely in the favour of the Hawks when the next pair of Kellet and Paul Stubbs came to the crease. Hero with the ball Kellett then tormented the Falcons with the bat, scoring 21 in a 27-run partnership to take the Hawks to 40.

The Falcons got themselves back into the match, taking regular wickets during the next 8 overs to leave the final pair of Gus van Rensburg and Dario Kellett needing 11 runs off the final four overs to win. Wickets at crucial times halted the Hawks final push for victory, as Bosnjak, charged with bowling the final over, managed to do what India's Ashok Dinda could not to recently against England, and not get hit for 6 off the last ball of the match.

Hawks skipper Kennedy had plenty to think about over a Tomislav dark larger after the match, after the second down to the wire loss in as many weeks.

"It could have gone either way, despite the back to back losses my captaincy is not in question. I need to work on a few things," said Kennedy, who again may face disciplinary action after wearing an arm guard. Tournament officials will be checking the rule book during the week regarding equipment.

Falcons 76 (K. Kekez 13, V.Tabain 10, J. Butković 8, L. Anderson 8, P. Bošnjak 7, C. Kellet 4- -6, D. Kennedy 2-4, L.Thondavada 2-13)

Hawks 71 (C. Kellett 21, G. v Rensburg 20, L. Thondavada 9, J. Butković 2- -2, K.Kekez 2-1, G.Kellett 2- 6, P. Mušin 2-17)

Player of the Series (1 run = 1 point, 1 wicket = 5 points):

1. Paul Mušin 76
2. Krešo Kekez 76
3. Lokesh Thondavada 71
4. Akshay Daxini 70
5. Gus van Rensburg 62
6. Jasen Butković 53
7. Doug Kennedy 50
8. Conrad Kellett 41
9. Tonko Tabain 37
10. Goran Kellett 28
11. Mike Maric 28
12. Lloyd Anderson 26
13. Marko Mance 21
14. Dominic Čičak 14
15. Julian Goodman 13
16. Pero Bošnjak (wk) 12
17. Šime Ivančević 8
18. Rob Kaguz 7
19. Paul Stubbs 4
20. Vedran Žanko 0
21. Ivan Bundera -5
22. Ibad Faraqui -10
23. Luka Papa-Stubbs -15