Rain put a dampener on the Barrier District Cricket League’s (BDCL) Women’s and A Grade semi-finals last weekend, with B Grade the only match able to go ahead. And it sure delivered a result that should be reminiscent of the post-season standard.
In a repeat of last year’s B Grade Grand Final, second-placed West hosted third-placed North at Norm Fox Oval on Saturday afternoon in a fixture that went down to the wire and eventually resulted in a three-wicket win to the Bulldogs with six balls remaining.
The Robins won the toss and elected to bat, though found it tough early, losing opener Matthew Adams (zero off two) with the second delivery of the match bowled by North captain Kieran McEvoy (2/28). Fellow opener Liam Pascoe (one off four) fell in the second over of the day with West reeling at 2/4 off 1.3 overs.
Captain Jordan Meehan (seven off 18) and Tom Burke (35 off 38) formed a small 33-run partnership which calmed things for West, though wickets continued to fall, finding themselves 6/40.
A 59-run stand between Josh Holmes (37* off 65) and Jordan Tonkin (39 off 21) took West to 7/129 with four overs remaining, eventually finishing 8/146 from their 30 overs, while North’s Jason Maalste (2/14) and Anthony Tidball (2/29) joined McEvoy in getting multiple wickets.
In reply, North’s openers McEvoy (19 off 18) and Scott Rogers (12 off 23) set a solid foundation to begin their innings, though both were sent back to the sheds early in the chase. Down 4/77, the Bulldogs required just over a run a ball going into the final 10 overs.
This prompted North’s batters to enter into ‘Bazball’ mode, with new man to the crease, Dwayne De Vries (21 off 15), hitting two fours and a six during a short cameo, with Harrison Butcher (12 off six with two sixes), Ben Victory (13* off 10), and Dylan Milsteed (five not out off four) all striking above 100, all held together by Lachlan Bell’s 34 off 60.
Needing 10 from the final 12 balls, North made sure it wouldn’t go down to the last over of the day, as Victory and Milsteed kept cool under pressure, with the former hitting the winning run, a single to long on, leading to jubilant celebrations on the sidelines.
The victory to North sets up a B Grade Grand Final against Warriors this Saturday March 9 from 12.30pm at Norm Fox Oval.
Other BDCL Grand Finals see North and Central battle in the Women’s at Jubilee Oval from 6.30pm on Friday March 8 and A Grade has North and West chasing premiership glory on Saturday March 9 from 11am at Alma Oval.
