North Geelong claimed its sixth Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 premiership in a row on the back of a maiden century from Alistair McCann and a superb all-round performance from captain Tom Mathieson.
It was McCann’s first ever century in any form of cricket.
The towering right-hander joined the fray when the Magpies were 5/89 after Sam Hall (34) and Layton McCann (28) weathered an early onslaught from Noah Guida.
McCann and Connor Hangan (29) took the score to 6/145 with Newtown & Chilwell captain Dylan Hodge bowling beautifully.
Dale Kerr strode to the crease and quickly went about not only resurrecting the innings, but putting North Geelong into a position of dominance.
The fast bowler made a counter punching 58 from 67 balls before he fell to a superb catch in the outfield by Nick Burke.
The score was now 7/246 and the Two Blues were still in the game.
But Mathieson and McCann took the score to 7/304 at stumps and the game had a firm favourite for victory.
McCann brought up his ton with a clip to mid-wicket and would go on to make 127 from 201 deliveries. McCann ‘only’ hit seven fours and three sixes, but shrewd running between the wickets and sublime placement made the innings one to treasure.
Mathieson ended unbeaten on 38 from 47 with the pair putting on a further 39 runs in four overs on day two to finish at 8/343 from 110 overs.
Hodge was immovable, taking 3/42 from 25 overs while Guida was given plenty of work for his 3/132 from 31.
Newtown & Chilwell would need a massive effort from its top order to win, but it didn’t take long for Lachie Hayes to get rid of the dangerous Paddy McKenna and then Kerr joined in on the action to get rid of Michael Grohmann and Ronnie McKenna.
Enter Mathieson.
The left-arm paceman destroyed the Two Blues, taking 6/12 from 14.3 overs to have them all out for 80 and the celebrations for six in a row began.
LARA went through the Division 2 season as premiers and champions.
The Cats didn’t lose a game all season although they had to dig deep against Murgheboluc in the grand final.
Murgheboluc batted first at Lara and made 145 with Luke Webb (59) playing well. The Frogs were 9/127, but a 19-run stand between Daniel Grozdanovski and Tom Barter got the score up close to 150.
Mitchell Heyward snared three wickets for Lara while Kaden Marum took 2/26 from 18 overs.
In reply Lara was 4/49 and then early on day two was 6/59 with the Frogs slightly on top.
All the while Daniel Weigl was playing beautifully and he was joined by Marum.
The pair took the score to 6/148 and victory. Weigl’s innings was colossal and ended unconquered on 86 while Marum’s support role was no less important and he ended on 33 not out.
Webb capped off a superb game for Murgheboluc with 5/53 from 25.3 overs to go with his fighting half-century.
THOMSON claimed the Division 3 flag with a 61-run win against Marshall.
The Tigers had good contributions all the way through after winning the toss and batting at South Barwon Reserve.
Seb Dew (49), Luke Willcox (38), Seaver Cowley (33), Jackson Burke (26) and Shane Bremmer (26 not out) all contributed to the final total of 235 all out, but nobody was able to go on and turn it into a big one.
Three wickets each to Taylor Cameron and Mike Norris kept the Bears in the contest.
One day two, Marshall slumped to 4/40 with Bremmer and Cowley doing the early damage.
At 7/118 the game was all but over, but Jake Hilton had other ideas and posted a superb unbeaten 79, but the Bears were dismissed for 174.
Cowley (5/52 from 20 overs) and Bremmer (4/74 from 35) capped off great all-round games for Thomson.
LETHBRIDGE defeated Meredith in the Division 4 decider.
Meredith won the toss and sent the Rosellas in, but Hayden Spiller (68 from 108 balls), Vihang Ahlawat (35 from 20) and Shane Dillon (31) did enough to get the total up to a competitive 9/196.
Matthew Ringin’s 4/30 from nine overs was the highlight for the Rams.
Meredith gave it everything with Levhi Givvens (42 from 59), Harli Givvens (40 from 32) and Ringin (37) playing well, but Dillon (3/23) and Sam Giles (2/20) made breakthroughs and the Rams were all out for 169.
