THE Gisborne District Cricket Association (GDCA) has won the Kirton Shield in a thriller with Ballarat, with members from Wallan, Romsey and Kilmore playing a significant role in the victory.
After winning all of its round-robin games, including a win against Ballarat leading up to the final at Seymour’s Kings Park on Sunday, Gisborne came into the game as warm favourites.
Opening duo, Kilmore’s Lachlan Peggie and Wallan’s Darby Bishop, combined superbly in the opening overs to leave Ballarat in desperate trouble at 4/17, with Peggie and Bishop taking two wickets apiece.
Kilmore youngster Darcy McNicholas stamped his authority on the game, combining for a key runout, while Romsey’s Felix Cameron cleaned up the tail with three wickets.
Cameron led the way with 3/23, while Peggie (2/14), Bishop (2/16) and fellow Wallan player Zac Bell (1/7) also contributed as Ballarat was bowled out for 111.
Ballarat needed a response with the ball, and it delivered in the opening overs, but it was Joshua Mullavey-Clark who provided a steady head when needed for the GDCA, scoring 51 off 63 deliveries to be the top scorer on the ground.
Gisborne eventually chased down the target but was made to sweat it out in the closing overs as Ballarat never gave up.
Gisborne finished on 8/115 to take a memorable title.
There is still plenty of representative cricket to come for the GDCA, with the senior women’s and under 14 girls set to start its campaign this week.
The GDCA will have a bye in round one of the senior women’s tournament, but will play Castlemaine in round two tomorrow at Newstead, before playing against Ballarat next week at Maddingley Park.
This will be followed by Gisborne’s men’s Country Week campaign beginning next week, with games to come against Warrnambool Moyne at Malvern next Monday, La Trobe Valley at Altona on Tuesday, Bellarine Peninsula at Hoppers Crossing on Wednesday and South West at Port Melbourne on Thursday, before playing finals on Friday.
