Tara Murray
Newport-Digman is hoping that its third time lucky in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 2.
The Bulls are through to their third straight grand final, after a thrilling win against Williamstown CYMS in their semi final on Saturday.
In a game that was even throughout, the Bulls came away with the win by one run.
The Bulls made 6-159 from their overs with Sulan Jayawardhana top scoring with 33.
Brad Robertson took three wickets for the CYs .
The CYs would push it to the last ball, falling just short at 8-158. Kieran Gray top scored with 56 at the top of the order.
Bulls president John McCarthy said the match could have gone either way.
“There was nothing between us all game,” he said. “We scored 69 off the first 10 overs and they had 68 or 67.
“We knew it was going to go all the way. They needed 12 off the last over and then four off the final ball.
“If they had got three, it would have been a tie and we went through. They got a two and we just fielded the ball and held on.”
McCarthy said one of the keys in the game was the fielding. He said former Australian player James Muirhead was leading the way.
“He has added a lot to the club and a new dimension when we were fielding. He’s had a big focus on that.
“He took a catch that no one else would have taken. He got out Gray when he was going and it turned the game.”
The Bulls will face Sydenham-Hillside in the best of three grand final series, with all three games to be played at Hillside.
Similar to the the Bulls, the Storm won through to the grand final series with a final ball thriller.
The Storm won the last time the two teams met. McCarthy said that getting early wickets would be the key with the Storm’s strong batting line up.
McCarthy said they had been working towards the grand final and earning promotion for a while.
“On our day we can match it with anyone,” he said.
“We’ve got a strong junior program and three junior sides that have played in grand finals.
“We’ve been preparing to progress up the grades but you have to learn it.
“We’ve learned how to play in grand finals the last couple of years, hopefully it pays off this year.”
In the senior division, both the Druids and Yarraville Club were knocked out by Haig Fawkner and Aberfeldie respectively.
The Druids made 5-178 with Michael Hay top scoring with 69 not out. Haig Fawkner was never in trouble finishing 3-179 in the 34th over.
A batting collapse proved costly for Yarraville Club. The Clubber went from 2-90 to all out for 117. Aberfeldie made the runs in the 29th over, finishing 2-119.
In division 1, Seddon and Altona North lost to Deer Park and St Francis de Sales respectively in their semi finals.
