Premiers! Under 16-3 Grand Final Report
Day 1:
Chirnside Park won the toss and elected to send us in to bat on the wet outfield at Kimberley Reserve. Nick and Jamie got us off to a steady start, seeing off the new ball before Jamie was bowled for 6 with the score 1/12. A partnership of 23 formed between the two captains, before Tom was bowled for 10. Nick continued to play the anchor role eventually retiring midway through day 1.
Runs continued to tick over as did the wickets – as Kyle (10), Damon (0), Ronan (5) and Evan (2) all departed on day one, placing Chirnside in the box seat at 6/59. Benny Mac & Ash steadied the ship and took the boys to stumps at 6/78.
With the ground drying out and runs on the board the lads set out to take some early wickets.
Chirnside Park batted with a clear game plan to save their wickets for day two and tire the lads out looking for the bad balls.
Ronan got the ball rolling, bowling the Chirnside Park opener for a well-made 0… Off 38 balls..
To our credit the boys bowled exceptionally, minimising extras (7 for the innings) and keeping Chirnside Park to 1/54 on day one, giving us a handy run advantage & Chirnside a decisive wicket advantage.
Day 2:
Another soppy outfield greeted the lads on day two, and knowing Chirnside Park was going to be on the hunt for quick runs the boys set themselves for one final big effort for the season.
Nick (2/21 off 10) bowled his usual tidy lines and lengths, Kyle (1/3 off 5), Joel (1/15 off 8), Aaron (0/12 off 4 – with a broken finger!) and Ronan (2/15 off 9) all bowled really well in partnerships, making it very hard for Chirnside to pick up the scoring as they would have liked.
A late flourish by Chirnside saw them push their score onto 6/122 leaving us 45 runs to win a grand final!
Ash & Benny got us off to a great start – with Ash picking a great day to have his best score for the season – Taking the score along to 89 before being bowled for 17. Ben and Joel added another 14 runs before Joel was caught out for 6, with the score at a thrilling 8/103 and anyones game.
Ben retired and bought Nick back to the crease as the lads kept chipping at the runs. After facing another 20 balls Nick (22*) retired and Ben Mac was back at the crease, combining with Ethan – who was watching the retired batters cycle at the other end!
As the scores grew closer, the parents seemed to get more nervous than the lads as Ethan (4*) combined with Ben to tie the scores in the 45th over. Ben (32*) hit the next ball of the match back over the bowlers head for a 3, taking the score to 8/125 making us PREMIERS for 2016/17.
A thoroughly well-deserved effort from the lads who played as a team all season and never gave up on a contest.
