The Ouyen Rams will face late bloomers Tempy Tigers in the Red Cliffs Cricket Association grand final after Nursery Ridge fell at home to Tempy on Sunday.
Kicking on from their easy 10-wicket elimination final win over Robinvale Euston the week before, Tempy set the Ridgebacks a strong 139 run target for victory. Recovering from 4 for 37, all-rounder captain Tate Hulland steadied the ship at Quandong Park with a patient 43 from 92 balls, partnered by Zac Robertson who delivered his top score for the season, 31 from 59 balls. Haydn Falconer was best with the ball for Nursery Ridge taking 3 for 24.
Nursery Ridge began their run chase patiently before Lampard finally surrendered his end, first dismissed for a 19 ball duck. The visitor's chances rested on the shoulders of run-machine Shannon Bowen, but when he fell to Tempy bowling hero Ben Mole, Nursery Ridge looked unlikely to muster a challenge, their run-chase faltering out at 6 for 74. Bowler Jason Finch batting at 7 had other ideas, racing quickly to 29 to set up a big finish with Nursery Ridge at 113 for 7, needing 25 runs from 48 balls for another crack at the Rams in the grand final. Finch had struggled with the bat since consecutive thirties in rounds 4 and 5, and had been out cheaply twice facing Tempy during the regular season.
2020/21 Tigers club champion Ben Mole had been the destroyer but his overs had bowled out at 4 for 32 as Joel Finch joined Jason at the crease. Nursery Ridge's tail was more tucked between the legs than wagging with Joel Finch and Ross falling for ducks, leaving Jackson Parker, averaging less than 6 with the bat, to hold up an end for some improbable Jason Finch heroics.
Alas, it was not to be with Finch holing out soon after and the Ridgebacks all out for 125 in the 37th over. Davies finished with 3 for 13 and Nic Monaghan 2 for 17 backing up Mole's 4 for 32 from the maximum available overs.
Yorumlar