JAMIE Stewart starred with the gloves, the ball and the bat as he lifted the Western Bulls to a six wicket win against Panthers at the weekend.
The talented all-rounder did it all for his side as he kept wicket for the first 28-overs of the innings before being brought into the attack and rattling through the Panthers middle and lower order after drinks to claim 5-30.
Stewart then carried his bat for the second time in as many weeks to remain unbeaten on 97 and help the Bulls haul in the 219-run target set by Panthers.
Western Bulls captain Adrian Morrisby praised Stewart's effort as one of the best individual performances he had seen.
"Jamie [Stewart] was exceptional out there today and showed what a classy cricketer he is," Morrisby said.
"He was faultless behind the stumps and when I was looking for a bowling option he came on and got us back into the game."
Morrisby admitted it would have been good to see Stewart reach his ton but the win was the most important result.
"If we'd known how close he was the other players may have farmed him the strike but Jamie [Stewart] is a team player and wanted a win for the team," Morrisby said.
Morrisby (21 not out) and Stewart put on 45 runs for the fifth wicket and extended the Western Bulls lead at the top of the table.
In a clash between the top-two sides in the competition for
the Bell and Moir Toyota Mid-season Cup, Panthers batted first and after losing two early wickets went on to reach 219 before being bowled out in the 38th over.
Opener Ryan Francis (0) and number three Archie Macpherson (1) went cheaply and Panthers were in trouble at 2-14.
However, a 65-run partnership between Chas Eichmann (44) and Tubby Allen (60) steadied the ship.
Allen had seemingly forgotten the Twenty20 series was over, crushing his 60 runs from just 27 balls. His belligerent innings included nine fours and two sixes before he was caught off the bowling of Morrisby (1-42).
Eichmann who had been leaning on his bat for much of the previous partnership then combined with Adrian Airey (57) to add 44 to the total.
Young leg-spinner Jye Graham's (1-22) introduction to the attack brought about the demise of Eichmann as he marched towards his half-century.
Alex Amos (19) and Airey continued to build the Panthers total before Stewart's introduction saw a flurry of wickets.
The experienced all-rounder knocked both Airey's and Amos' stumps out of the ground and wrapped up the Panthers innings dismissing Adnan Wani (15), AJ Saunders (6) and Mat Lovett (2).
The increasingly impressive Marty McGauran (1-18 off seven overs) proved hard to get away as several Bulls bowlers including Mick Hal (1-58) took some stick on a hot afternoon that did not offer bowlers much.
In its run chase, the Bulls lost opener Blake Cowley (8) before McGauran (10) added fifty with Stewart. After a watchful start to his innings, Stewart began loosening the shoulders to dominate the attack.
McGauran's departure brought Mick Hall (22) to the crease where he and Stewart combined for another purposeful partnership.
Mick Hall's wicket with the total on 117 opened the gate slightly for Panthers, However, Wes Hall (15) and then Morrisby ensured Stewart would not need to rely on the tailenders to get the Bulls home.
Although wicketless, Amos (0-23) was the pick of the Panthers bowlers with Steve Andrews finishing with 2-49 but too many extras contributed to the Panthers loss.
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