Best moments of the domestic season

So it’s come to this.

Almost six months after the Australian domestic season started in Brisbane, the final ball is to be bowled today in Hobart.

So now seems like the ideal time to cast our minds and memories over the summer that’s gone and recount some of the more memorable moments from the season.

Wade's ridiculous run out
Scrambling to save a dropped single to gully from NSW Blues batsman Peter Nevill, Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade not only prevented the run, he gathered, aimed and fired to hit the stumps all in one motion in one of the most athletic and jaw-dropping pieces of fielding ever seen.

Dunk slams Bulls
North Sydney Oval has seen some big totals in its time as 50-over venue. The flat wicket and postage stamp-size ground make it heaven for batsmen and hell for bowlers. But never has the boutique ground witnessed an innings like Ben Dunk’s 229 not out. The Tasmania opening batsman bossed 15 fours and 13 sixes in his 157-ball stay, blasting the Tigers to 1-398 against Queensland. You reckon that’s unbelievable? How about this; the Tigers lost! On the back of a 280 run first-wicket stand, Usman Khawaja (166), Chris Hartley (142) and the Bulls chased down the target with 16 balls to spare as records tumbled.

NSW continue to break new ground
The NSW Lend Lease Breakers are one of the most successful sporting teams in Australia, and they continued their dominance by claiming a 10th successive National Women's Cricket League title in January. After a somewhat erratic season by their standards, the Breakers registered an emphatic 144-run win over the Breezair SA Scorpions in the final at Blacktown. Opener Rachel Haynes top-scored with 79 while skipper Alex Blackwell (67) and superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry made 57no. Erin Osborne then claimed three wickets. The Breakers have now won 17 of the 19 titles since the current format of the 50-over competition was introduced in 1997.

Behrendorff’s fantastic final five
Western Australia’s fast bowling attack during the Matador Cup was slick. Seriously slick. Swing kid Joel Paris crippled batting line-ups, Nathan Coulter-Nile captured the most poles, Nathan Rimmington returned to his best and Jason Behrendorff topped off a stunning campaign with five wickets in the final against NSW Blues at the SCG. It was only the beginning for the lanky left-armer, whose dazzling display in the KFC T20 Big Bash League saw him crowned as Young Gun of the Tournament.

Maxi’s unbelievable leave
Of all the moments throughout the domestic summer, Glenn Maxwell’s famous leave for the Melbourne Stars in BBL|04 is the one that is still being talked about today. The look on the faces of commentators Adam Gilchrist and Damien Fleming says it all. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour.

Handscomb’s coming of age
Set 180 to win by eventual champions the Perth Scorchers, the Melbourne Stars were in disarray at 4-89 after 13 overs, still requiring 91 to win from 42 balls. But up stepped 23-year-old Peter Handscomb. The ultra-talented wicketkeeper-batsman combined with John Hastings and Clint McKay to run, rally and reel in the total to leave 12 needed from the final over. Handscomb didn’t need six balls. Three would be enough, going six, two, six to bring up his hundred and win the game for his team and the parochial fans at the MCG.

Reed’s slippery entry
It’s never a good sight when you see a bowler slip in his delivery stride. Australian fans hold their breath every time speedster Pat Cummins launches at the bowling crease. But to do it with your first ball in domestic cricket, and in such spectacular fashion, is a feat Hobart Hurricanes quick Jake Reed won’t live down. To his credit, Reed held on to the ball, got up immediately and was part of a terrific win.

Christian catches a bullet
Some catches take great skill. Some take athleticism. Some take pure luck. And some, like Dan Christian’s classic off Ben Stokes, are all reflex. The Renegades overseas import couldn’t have hit his full-bloodied whack any better, only for Christian to take evasive action in his follow through, throw his hands up and somehow hang on.

Frantic final-ball finishes
Two of the best games in Big Bash League history were played this summer, and both games featured hat-trick balls on the final delivery of the match. The first was the second Melbourne Derby at the MCG where the Stars had the scores tied with three balls to go only for some crafty work by Renegades paceman Nathan Rimmington to bring down the match to the final ball.

The second was in the BBL|04 final. Champion fast bowler Brett Lee, tasked with winning his side the match one more time, almost pulled off what would have been a fairy tale ending, setting up the ultimate delivery after castling the two previous batsmen with one run needed in the game of the year.

Sayers’ sizzling start
Right-arm Redbacks swing bowler Chad Sayers wasted no time in racing up the wicket-takers tally this summer when he claimed a hat-trick in the just the 11th over of the competition. Sayers first bowled Bulls opening batsman Joe Burns with a gem to clip off-stump. Second was youngster Ben McDermott trapped leg before wicket. And third, well, you’ll have to watch!

Ludeman’s leg-side beauty
Wicketkeepers around the world will appreciate this moment more than the average reader, but Tim Ludeman’s leg-side stumping of Jason Floros was a thing of beauty. In the same match as Sayers' hat-trick, the Redbacks' keeper was quick like lightning down the leg-side to whip off the bails and have his man out of his crease.

Siddle’s great eight
Dropped from the Test team, you could excuse Victoria quick Peter Siddle for having a point to prove. Unluckily for South Australia, it was against them that Siddle reminded the country just how dominant he is with a red kookaburra in his hand. The 56-Test veteran claimed season and career-best figures of 8-54 against the Redbacks in Adelaide, with six of the eight dismissals caught behind the wicket.

Voges reaches new heights
To illustrate how prolific Western Australia skipper Adam Voges has been this summer, only three batsman have scored more runs than him in a single season in the 113 years of the competition. Six centuries, five fifties, 155 fours and three sixes in 1337 runs, Voges has been the model of consistency and professionalism in 2014-15. His 249 against South Australia in Adelaide was the icing on the mountainous cake that could lead to a Test call-up at the age of 35.