By Jim Timberlake
Geelong Cricket Club Third XI has progressed through to this weekend’s grand final following a dominant win against Ringwood.
Batting first, Geelong got off to a great start with a 74-run opening stand, Josh Collins the dominant batsman with a patient 90, while Jack Rogers did his bit making 44.
The rest of the team inched their way to 8/227 before a bold declaration.
When Ringwood reached 0/55 in reply, things looked grim, but three quick wickets, two of those to Luke Guest, saw the Cats right back in the hunt.
Despite some nervous moments, two late wickets to Billy Hyde saw Geelong claim a 43-run win.
This weekend the side will meet St Kilda in the big one, a team they beat comfortably earlier in the season.
In Geelong Cricket Association, it’s grand final weekend in all grades, with some mouth-watering games scheduled all across the region.
In division one, Grovedale have kept their hopes of back-to-back flags alive, following a stirring come from behind win against North Geelong.
On Saturday, the Tigers were rocked early by North speedster Cam Alford claiming the first four wickets as they fell to 4/20.
But a rear-guard action followed, as the lower order knuckled down on a flat wicket and grinded their way to 181. Nick Hyden top scored with 41, while Barry Tsitas made 40.
Day two started well for the Magpies, reaching 27 before Lachie Szponar was run out.
From there the rot set in, as speedster Chris Young cut a swathe through the strong batting line up, the big left-hander finishing with 7/41 as North posted a disappointing 130.
In the other preliminary final, Murghebolucs fantastic season came to a grinding halt when they came up against a ruthless St Joseph’s.
The Frogs batted first but came up against the most in-form bowler in the competition, Frank Gill, who took his second five wicket haul in as many weeks to help dismiss Murgheboluc for just 135.
In reply, Luke Ibbs and Justin Foss made 67 not out each to cruise to a 10 wicket win.
So the two best sides in the competition now meet in the big one.
While Grovedale know they can get the job done when it counts, their top order is badly out of form and they can’t afford to leave it up to their tail to bail them out again.
St Joseph’s form on the other hand is impeccable, and with such an even spread of talented players all in top form, they will start as deserved favourites.
In division two, Highton will take on Newcomb & District in the grand final after the Heat ensured Bell Park’s season finished in straight sets.
Batting first on a flat wicket at Marshall, Highton were led by a magnificent unbeaten ton to Luke Buckland, while veteran Luke Daffy made 69 in the team’s total of 7/288.
The Dragons lost both openers early on Sunday, but wouldn’t go down that easily putting together some decent partnerships.
However, in the end 288 proved to be too much as Daffy and Alistair Ross took four wickets each in a 59 run win.
Newcomb & District didn’t have such an easy ride through, winning an absolute thriller against Thomson.
The Dinos batted first, Simon Anderson top scoring with 55 in a total of 170. In reply, Thomson got off to a positive start, knocking off 70 runs to finish day one, but at the cost of four wickets.
On day two, the Tigers inched their way to 6/142 and would have been considered favourites from there, but when Braden Szponar dismissed Louis Bentley for 72, the game changed.
Tigers skipper Adam Bliss inched them forever closer, but when he fell for 16, his team was five runs short in an agonising finish to their season.
So we have a grand final that no one saw coming, but that brings with it an exciting level of intrigue.
It’s hard to pick a winner, but Newcomb & District’s close finals wins may just give them the belief they have composure to get the job done in a tight game.
