Inverleigh or Wallington will be playing in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s A1 Grade competition next season, but not both.
The two teams meet this weekend in the A2 Grade grand final and appear evenly matched with the winner to be promoted to A1 Grade.
Wallington defeated a gallant Portarlington in the semi-final while Inverleigh defeated Collendina.
Wallington made 9/230 batting first, but was 6/119 when the game could have swung either way after opener Henry McIntosh made a valuable 54.
James Sood made a lively 31 from 44 balls, Dane Wise-Graham was 58 not out at stumps and Billy Gravett dug in for his 33.
“There’s no way Dane and Billy are number seven and eight batters, but it’s just the way we have lined it up,” Wallington captain-coach Matt Sampson-Barnes said.
“On another day, the top order would have had a bit of a better run, but it was really pleasing. I think we were six for 100 or something at the break. So just to knuckle down and grind it out was really good.”
When rain intervened on day two, it eventually left Port with just 24 overs to make the 231 runs required to advance to the final. Port needed the win due to finishing fourth on the ladder. A draw was enough for Wallington.
The Demons gave it a real crack, finishing all out for 178.
“I knew it was going to be a really tough game – every time we play those guys, it’s always really close,” Sampson-Barnes said.
“They are a really good side. We were actually in a situation where we couldn’t bowl three of our bowlers because it was that wet. So we ended up having to put on our slower bowlers and protect the boundaries with them needing 10 and over, or whatever it was.”
Sampson-Barnes was one of those slower bowlers and he took 4/35 from six overs while Aaron Toole clubbed 63 from 44 for Port.
Sampson-Barnes said Inverleigh presented a massive challenge.
“They’re a really good team,” he said.
“I don’t really see them as having any weaknesses at all. I think it’s going to be a really tough game. Especially playing at a neutral ground as well. It’s always exciting and offers challenges, but I’m expecting a really tough game.”
Inverleigh captain-coach Henry Collins was equally complimentary about his opponent.
“I think Wallington’s strength is that they’re just a really well-rounded team,” he said.
“They’ve scored a lot of runs, but then they’ve still got some quite challenging bowlers to try and get away as well. They’ve made a whole heap of runs throughout the year and then they’ve been more than handy with the ball as well, so it should be a good challenge.”
Inverleigh dismissed Collendina, a side that made a record 569 the week before, for just 109 in the semi-final.
“Our bowling is definitely our biggest strong suit and I’ve probably said that for the entirety of the season so it’s great that we have been performing so well and it’s good that we’ve got pretty much a full cartel,” Collins said.
“I think we’ve had a few people out every single game for just about for the whole year so it’s good that we’re at full strength at the right time.”
The Kookaburras took their time in chasing down Collendina’s small total in a sign that the top and middle orders were prepared to be in it for the long haul. Will Collins (14 off 41 deliveries), Lachie Platt (61 not out from 152) and Will Stoney (22 from 123) dug in.
“It was really mature batting from Platty and from Stoney,” Collins said.
“Platty is probably the heart and soul of Inverleigh Cricket Club so to see him doing well at this time of year is great.”
