TWO grand finals, four teams. That’s the equation for the Seymour District Cricket Association after a thrilling weekend of cricket.
An unbelievable conclusion to the season sees the top two teams fighting it out in A grade, while it’s a different story for B grade, with third playing fourth for glory.
In A grade, Tallarook flexed its muscle as minor premier, proving much too strong for Alexandra at Tallarook Recreation Reserve.
Batting first, Alexandra never truly recovered from a start which saw it 3/17 thanks to two quick wickets from Blake Munari-O’Dwyer.
While the Redbacks did well to make the score 3/61, Lachlan Watts came on, and his pressure was just too much, taking three quick wickets to get Tallarook well and truly back on top.
Kalon Winnell did the rest as he cleaned up the tail, taking 4/21 to ensure Alexandra was bowled out for 94.
Watts was impressive with his 3/14, while Munari-O’Dwyer finished with 2/7.
Joshua Rudge was an anchor at the top of the order, making 30 runs, while Matthew Archibald combined well to make 27 as Tallarook chased down the target with just over 16 overs to spare, and earning hosting rights to the grand final.
They’ll take on Seymour, who stamped its ticket with a 58-run win over Yea at Chittick Park.
Seymour batted first, and while there were a number of starts, none could really go on with it, with Cameron Evans firstly scoring 26, before Brett Gordon provided some valuable lower-order runs to allow the tail to wag, scoring 30 as the Maroons made 9/168 off its 45 overs.
However, some brilliant team bowling was the key for the Maroons as they combined beautifully to slow down Yea’s run rate.
A hot start from Daniel Bergowicz saw him claim two quick wickets, before Lachlan Drummond and Braidon Horkings took two quick wickets to help restrict Yea to 5/59.
The Tigers tried to catch the target, but it was to no avail as Evans and Drummond struck to leave them 8/91, before Hugh Smith finished the job with two quick wickets to roll Yea for 110.
Smith had the best figures of 2/7, while Drummond (2/11 off seven), Evans (2/16 off four) and Bergowicz (2/31 off five) also performed well.
In B grade, Pyalong took a 29-run win over Tallarook at Yea Recreation Reserve to progress to the final, knocking out the minor premier in the process.
A brilliant innings from Daniel Sowden was the key, with Sowden making an unbeaten 90 to anchor Pyalong’s knock of 7/162.
Aiden Winnell took 2/12 to be Tallarook’s best bowler, while Brendan O’Donnell took 2/33.
Tallarook was behind the eight-ball from the outset, with Tyler Caddie striking early to leave it 3/13.
David McCullough did what he could to try to get Tallarook to fight back, scoring 28, but it appeared it was Pyalong’s day as constant wickets fell at crucial stages.
Caddie confirmed it by taking a five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/40, while Peter Reynolds (2/17) and Samuel McDonald (2/26) also struck late to dismiss Tallarook for 133.
Puckapunyal’s chances of B grade success evaporated through Alexandra breaking down its middle order and lost by five wickets at the Puckapunyal Cricket Ground.
Pucka made a handy start through David Grundell, who scored 23, while Pieter Murtagh (13) and Shane Chisholm (15) also got starts, but soon, Alexandra would take constant wickets to leave Pucka in trouble and was eventually bowled out for 109.
Pucka needed quick wickets, and Jacob Nipperess gave them hope, but Alexandra had too much power in the middle order to eventually chase down the target, despite Nipperess’ 2/18 and Christopher Fing’s 2/25, eventually scoring 5/114.
The grand finals will be played this week, with Tallarook hosting Seymour at Tallarook Recreation Reserve, while Alexandra play Pyalong and Leckie Park.