THE grand finals have been set in the GDCA’s two women’s competitions after some commanding victories at the weekend.
Wallan produced a dominant performance against Lancefield Black in A grade to book a home grand final, winning by nine wickets.
Sent in to field, Wallan were on top early taking the wickets of both opening batters. It was then up to Ebony Penny and Luzanne de Kock to steady for the Tigers, who were able to do just that and then applied scoreboard pressure with some powerful hitting.
The game was in the balance in the 20th over when young Lara Vecchie was thrown the ball and bowled Penny for 15, and she followed it up with a blinder of a catch in the outfield the next over to remove de Kock for a well-made 29.
The remaining wickets were quickly cleaned up for just nine runs, leaving Wallan to chase just 88 to win.
Emily Telford was prolific with the ball, taking 3/6 from her four overs.
In the chase, Telford was joined at the crease by Wallan captain Megan Farrell and the pair quickly got to work whittling down the target.
Farrell was dismissed for 41 with just eight runs required, but the job was already done. Telford remained unbeaten on 33 while last week’s hero Charli Laity chipped in with five.
Ashleigh Cross took the lone wicket for Lancefield Black.
After the game, Farrell was full of praise for her young players.
“Lara and Emersyn (Castle) have come into the team and bowled amazingly,” she said.
“Also Lara’s catch today was an absolute highlight of the year. It’s reassuring to know that the junior girls can easily come in and fill a role for us.”
The Magpies will play Gisborne, who dealt with Bacchus Marsh in dominant fashion in the other semi-final to win by nine wickets.
Farrell said: “We’re a pretty even match up so I’m expecting a tight, nerve racking match.
“Hopefully it’ll be a good watch for the crowd.”
In B grade, the news was better for Lancefield’s Yellow team who beat East Sunbury by 10 wickets.
Choosing to bowl first, East Sunbury made their way to 1/41 before Evie Fish took two wickets in two balls to change the momentum.
Tight bowling from opening bowler Olivia Goodes (2/16) as well as Emily and Molly Consiglio (both 0/10) helped reduce their opponents to 4/99 from their 20 overs.
Molly Consiglio played a captain’s knock at the top of the order, pumping seven fours from her first 22 balls faced to put Lancefield ahead of the required run rate early.
She then made her way to a classy 50 to prove why she’s been the most prolific batter in B grade this season, helping the Tigers get the job done with more than seven overs to spare without losing a wicket.
Emma Donnellon (17 not out) and Megan Richardt (20 not out) pitched in with handy contributions.
Lancefield will face Melton Centrals at Lancefield Park next Sunday after they defeated a valiant Broadford by 43 runs.
Chasing 136 from their 20 overs, Broadford lost openers Lana Wood and captain Brooke Jeffery early on.
Philippa Skala’s season-high 31 provided some resistance in the middle order, but the chase proved too big in the end, Broadford finishing 7/92 to end their inaugural season.