Tallarook will face Eastern Hill in the Seymour District Cricket Association A Grade grand final this weekend after a comfortable victory over Broadford in the semi-final on Saturday.
Led by captain Lachlan Watts, with 76 runs, Tallarook won the toss and elected to bat on their home turf, posting a total of 4/212 after 45 overs.
After losing openers Josh Rudge, 26 runs, and then Ben Tarran, 20, Tallarook were 2/58, but Watts and Kasey Duncan dug in to stay at the crease, making a partnership of 113 runs.
Watts eventually fell to the bowling of Jeremy Bradshaw, who was Broadford’s best bowler of the day, taking 3/43. Chasing 212 was always going to be a challenge for Broadford, who have struggled to make strong totals this season.
Wickets fell steadily across Broadford’s innings, with the only real shining lights the batting of brothers Josh and Riley Nolan, who top-scored with 31 and 20 respectively.
Kalon Winnell, 3/20, and Leigh Irving, 3/32, were the best of the Tallarook bowlers.
Tallarook’s sights will now turn to Eastern Hill, who progressed straight through to the grand final after finishing top of the ladder.
With only six teams in A Grade this season, the assocation elected to have a top three.
Tallarook finished in second spot on the ladder, only by percentage behind last year’s premiers, and have been the in-form side in A Grade post the Christmas break.
In B Grade, Pyalong will play Tallarook; while the C Grade grand final is between Yea and Avenel.
The venues for each of the grand finals had not been decided when the Review went to print.
• For Gisborne cricket, see here.
