MERNDA will have an opportunity to return to Money Shield for the first time in two years when they meet minor premiers Rivergum in the Mash Shield grand final, accounting for Laurimar by 65 runs in the semi-final.
Laurimar came in with some confidence, fresh off defeating the Demons twice during the home-and-away season, but it was Mernda who got off to a good start on day one, with Stuart Wright’s 28 and Satinder Sekhon scoring 45 helping them put some runs on the board.
However, when Sekhon fell, the Demons looked to be in trouble at 7/107, with Travis Baker and Steven Mitchell doing most of the damage with three wickets apiece.
However, the Demons’ tail knuckled down, and it was Noah Dodd’s 34 which proved to be one of the most important innings of the season for the club, helping guide Mernda to a score of 180.
Mitchell led the way with 3/29 off 14.1 overs, while Baker’s 3/43 off 20 overs and Patrick Richardson’s 2/36 off 14 also saw them provide wickets for the Power.
Laurimar had successfully chased down the Demons in both of their wins earlier this season, but the target of 181 looked to be a tough one, particularly given the Demons’ positive play towards the end of day one as the game resumed on Sunday.
Lachlan Taylor and Michael Edwards were inspired, bowling tight lines to ensure it wasn’t easy for the Power to get away and score as quickly as they would like.
Taylor struck first, taking the stumps of Harley Boland for five, before taking the big scalp of Laurimar playing-coach Luke Richardson for 10, caught by Sekhon.
Edwards and Dodd soon struck three times quickly to leave Laurimar in desperate trouble at 5/36.
Baker came out and played some aggressive cricket, in particular, taking Dodd to task with one 16-run over, but when he fell, caught by Alex Mitris off the bowling of Mernda namesake James Baker, it felt like a matter of when, not if, for the Demons.
It was Taylor who finished off the job, taking the final three wickets for the afternoon to give himself a five-wicket haul, finishing with 5/31 off 21.1 overs.
The Demons now progress to their grand final meeting with Rivergum, but while their opponents finished on top of the ladder, their only two losses of the season were inflicted by Mernda, who will look to regain their status in Money Shield after their relegation in 2022/23.
For Laurimar, in the meantime, their first season back in Mash Shield is over, and will look to emulate the Demons in bouncing back to a grand final in their second season in the competition.
Mernda captain Callum Dean said it was a win that was earned off the tail wagging on Saturday afternoon.
“It was hard work, and it was what we spoke about from the start—two days of hard work, and we really earned the win on Saturday,” he said.
“The bowlers stuck together and worked really hard, hitting the spot and didn’t give room to score. 180 was going to be enough if we bowled well, and we did.”
Dean praised the work of Sekhon, who adjusted to a new role to anchor the Demons at the top of the order.
“Sekhon had a new role at number three this week in a final, and he did a great job, he really set us up and gave us a chance, by putting the runs on the board,” he said.
Dean and his charges will go into the grand final with a free hit mentality.
“It’s hard to make a grand final, but we’re there, so all we can do is have a crack and see where we land,” he said.
“We are a young group, so it was always going to take time to regroup and regather (after relegation), but next week is a free hit for us.”
In other results around the competition, South Morang will progress to the D grade grand final after a thrilling nine-run victory against Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval.
Benjamin Zychla took 4/33 to help restrict Hurstbridge to 154, before Paul Martin’s 42, Lachlan Gatherer’s 33 and Darcy Kay’s unbeaten 30 helped get the job done with just two wickets to spare, eventually finishing on 9/163.
It will be a Lions double next week as the Lions’ Third XI also progressed after a comfortable six-wicket win against Montmorency.
Chasing 117 thanks to Kavit Shah’s four wickets, the Lions had enough contributions to get the job done with ease, with Janakan Ramalingam and Brodie Slater scoring 26 runs apiece.
The Lions narrowly missed a third grand final, falling 12 runs short of victory in the F3 semi-final against Greensborough, despite Brody Kay’s 86.
The lower grades were a mixed bag for the Lions, winning their G2 elimination final against Diamond Creek by six wickets, but losing their G3 elimination final to Lower Plenty by seven wickets.
