A2 giants to battle it out

A Grade, Division 2

INVERLOCH and Nyora will go head-to-head in the A2 grand final this weekend.

Both sides have been juggernauts this season, claiming first and second position on the ladder respectively, well ahead of the rest of the pack.

In the first semi-final, Inverloch secured a win over MDU.

Playing at Inverloch’s Thompson Reserve, MDU won the toss and chose to bat first.

Opening batsman and vice-captain Mitch McGrath managed to put 18 runs on the board, but the rest of the top order struggled to make an impact under the pressure of Inverloch bowlers Lewis

Rankin, Ty Debono and Jesse Dugard.

Rankin had Inverloch’s best bowling figures for the day, taking 3/32, including the dismissal of captain Joel Sinclair for a golden duck.

Dugard, Debono and Rhys Newman took two wickets each. 

Steve Arnup, Tharindu Nuwan and Jai Bright made 21, 23 and 22 runs, getting the game back on track for MDU.

In the end, MDU was bowled out 10/128.

Inverloch made the wise decision of opening its innings with the partnership of Riley Harris and Newman at the crease.

Newman top scored with 50 runs before he was dismissed by Sembakuttige Chathura Lakshan.

Callum Asbury and Jack Butcher were quickly dismissed for four runs and a duck respectively at the hands of Wayne Prosser and Lakshan, but that saw Dylan Clark enter the game.

Clark saw out the innings with Harris.

Harris put 40 runs on the board and Clark scored 30 runs.

Inverloch knocked over the winning runs in the  80th over, with a score of 3/130.  

Killy concedes defeat as Nyora nab Grand Final place

A 139-RUN haul from batsman Aaron Kaddatz contributed significantly to Nyora’s finals campaign.

Nyora hosted Kilcunda-Bass and opted to bat first after winning the toss.

Opening batsman Henry Dolphin set the tone of the match with 57 runs.

Kilcunda-Bass bowlers Cameron Davidson and Brad Wright worked their way through the batting order until fifth bat Kaddatz joined Dolphin at the crease.

They had caused the damage before Dolphin was caught by Jaydan Tregear off the bowling of Harrison Berry, and Kaddatz was caught by Shaun Lucas off the bowling of Tregear.

Nyora wasn’t finished, as Benn Hayes added 61 runs and Aaron Thompson made 50 runs.

Nyora’s winning tally was 9/377.

Davidson, Wright and Tregear were Kilcunda-Bass’ best bowlers, claiming two wickets each.

Davidson and Robert Wallace opened the batting for Kilcunda-Bass.

Wallace made seven runs before he was dismissed LBW by Mitch Rowe.

With the score at 1/20, Wright entered the crease.

Davidson made 20 runs, and Wright went on to top score with 77 runs.

Tregear later contributed 35 runs.

For Nyora, Thompson had the bowling honours, taking 3/39.

Vice-captain Aidan Simmons and Hayes claimed two wickets each.

Kilcunda-Bass conceded defeat when it was all out 10/188.