Leopold became giant killers at Reynolds Oval, winning through to the Geelong Cricket Association top grade T20 grand final.
One of only two GCA2 sides to make the quarter-finals, Leopold proved too good for GCA1’s South Barwon in a semi-final on Tuesday 20 January and will meet powerhouse North Geelong in the decider on 26 January.
Classy left-hander Hayden Butterworth looked like steering the Lions to a formidable total on a sublime Reynolds Oval pitch and outfield. One towering six took minutes to retrieve when it sailed over the South Barwon clubrooms.
Butterworth punched his way to 46 from 35 balls before leg-spinner Sydney Ray had an immediate impact for South Barwon. Ray sent a full-toss Butterworth’s way, but Andrew Ross held the catch at deep mid-wicket.
Ray then got Joseph Vallelonga with another full-toss, but then found his groove, extracting spin and bounce and he would add Dylan Taylor to his list of victims helped by a neat stumping from Tom Meredith.
At 5/83 Leopold could have folded, but Sam Mitchell (27) and Reece Plumridge (12 not out) got the final total to 8/145.
Ray picked up 3/26 while seamer Harry Hauenstein took 3/22 from four tidy overs for the Swans.
South Barwon’s strong batting line-up never really got going. Seven batters reached double figures, but Meredith’s 19 was the best as Leopold put the clamps on.
The game was wrapped up with a fine diving left-hand catch by Vallelonga, his fifth for the innings, behind the stumps off Lachlan Neate and the Swans were all out for 122 with four balls remaining in the 20th, and final, over.
Neate and Butterworth each took three wickets for South Barwon.
North Geelong is aiming for its third consecutive T20 premiership after defeating St Peters at Osborne Park.
St Peters batted first after calling correctly and middle-order knocks from Hunter Lewis (46 not out), Mitch Ford (23) and Matthew Sorgiavanni (23) got the total to a respectable 7/128, although it was at least 20 or 30 runs short.
Pace bowlers Dale Kerr and Tom Mathieson each grabbed two wickets for the Magpies while young leggie Ben Demasi continued to thrive in the shortest form of the game with 1/15 from three overs.
The Saints’ best hope of pinching victory was to take early wickets, but Mathieson launched a counterattacking 68 from 50 deliveries at the top of the order and Phil Visser was unbeaten on 34 with North Geelong hauling in the runs with six wickets and 11 balls in hand although promising young all-rounder Jack Trewin was superb for the Saints with 3/19 from four overs.
Lethbridge will meet Newcomb & District In the Divisions 3 & 4 final.
The Rosellas accounted for Waurn Ponds Deakin in a semi-final by eight wickets at home with Jesse Sheehan taking four wickets.
WPD was dismissed for 94 on the first ball of the 15th over with Sheehan taking a hat-trick in the fourth over.
Sheehan had Charlie Carter caught by keeper Ben Spiller from an attempted cut shot, then trapped Jackson Ellis in front with the next ball before bowling Nick Phillips to bring up his hat-trick.
Noah Berry tried hard for WPD with a 20-ball 40, but Tom Saunders wrapped up the innings with two wickets.
Lethbridge was untroubled during the small chase, reaching 2/96 late in the 14th over with Harry Lever unbeaten on 34.
Newcomb & District was too good for Bannockburn at Grinter Reserve, making 7/139 batting first with Huey Nield (43), Daniel Harrison (29) and Cam Egan (29) leading the way.
In reply, Bannockburn was all out for 117 with three balls left of its allotted 20 overs remaining. Blake Ritchie, Egan and Harrison all chipped in with two wickets each for the Dinos.
GCA T20 GRAND FINALS
KFC Oval, Queens Park, Highton
Monday 26 January
Divisions 1 & 2
North Geelong vs Leopold at 3pm
Divisions 3 & 4
Newcomb & District vs Lethbridge at 10.30am
