Castlemaine District Cricket Association grand final sides battled it out for premiership honours last weekend across the competition.
Highlights of the round were Barkers Creek A Grader Bailey Henderson’s 53 with the bat, while Newstead Women’s team member Eve Righetti claimed 5-7 with the ball.
Results were:
A Grade
Two-Day
Barkers Creek and Muckleford faced off in the A Grade Grand Final at Camp Reserve in a two-day clash. Barkers Creek won the toss and elected to bat first.
Opener Bailey Henderson started strongly with 53 before he was stumped by Jack Smith. However, fellow opener Nash Robinson fell cheaply for 4 and captain Darby Semmens stepped in with a handy 51 before he was caught by Brett Cole.
The Barkers’ middle order quickly found themselves in trouble losing seasoned campaigners Bodhi Robinson and Mark Noonan for 8 and Chris McKnight for a duck. Benjamin Leech chipped in 15 before Kalan Huntly fell for a duck.
Fortunately, Andrew Mead-Harding 27 and Brayden Yanner 19 not out were able to add a few late runs with the side all out for 10-193 putting the Maroons in a strong position to chase down the total.
Pick of the bowlers for Muckleford were John Watson 4-59, James Cole 2-24, Brandon Weatherson 2-38 and Declan Slingo 2-63.
Barkers bowlers were also quickly on top on day two dismissing Muckleford’s openers Dakota Slingo for a duck and Edward Gingell for just 7.
Daniel Peckham 53 got the run rate ticking over before he was bowled by Nash Robinson and Luke Filer made 32 before he was caught by Mark Noonan off a delivery from Darby Semmens.
Stalwarts John Watson and Declan Slingo both fell for ducks each caught by Benny Leech and bowled by Semmens. The same combination also sent Brett Cole back to the shed with 11.
Jack Smith lifted Muckleford fans’ spirits with 17 before he was bowled by Nash Robinson.
But the wickets continued to fall with Patrick Leathem and James Cole falling for ducks ending Muckleford’s hopes for a flag with a final score of 10-128.
Nash Robinson 4-16 and Darby Semmens 4-37 led the way with the ball, whilst Chris McKnight claimed 2-43.
Barkers Creek claiming the premiership honours. Darcy Semmens was named ‘Player of the Match’.
A Reserve
One-Day
In the A Reserve Grand Final, Newstead tackled at Heathcote at Wesley Hill. Heathcote won the toss and elected to send Newstead in to bat first.
Steaders opener Charlie Chapman quickly fell for 5 lbw to Liam Hubble. Fellow opener Kris Walter made 29 before he was caught by Tim Gleeson off a delivery by Nick Malavisi.
Cameron Hepburn contributed a quick fire 12 before he too was caught by Malavisi off a delivery from Tim Gleeson.
The Steaders then found themselves in real trouble when Koby Smith fell for 8 and Ciaran Gardner for 3 before the next three bowlers were dismissed for a duck. Late order batsman Josiah Park 15 and Leigh Walker steadied the ship to take the side to a final score of 10-92.
Nick Malavisi did the majority of the damage with 5-19.
Heathcote opener Brett Polson made 19 before he was caught by young gun William Garsed off a delivery by Gerald Chapman.
The side then lost Brad Rowe for a duck and Bradley Polson for just 2.
However, Tim Gleeson 29 not out and Cale Polson 34 not out shored up the middle and helped get the side over the line with six wickets in hand and a total of 4-96 to claim the flag. Congratulations to Nick Malavisi who was named ‘Player of the Match’.
B Grade
One-Day
In the B Grade Grand Final, Taradale hosted Hepburn at Taradale Recreation Reserve. Taradale won the toss and elected to bowl sending Hepburn to the crease. The visitors started strongly with Ashley Lovick making 57 before he was caught by Kym Szegedi off a delivery from Leigh Bennett. Daniel Bell fell for just 9, but Nathaniel Lowe made a quick fire 30. The middle order found themselves struggling against the Taradale pace attack with Tom Crosswell 4, Vineet Kumar falling for a duck, Corey Pedley 10 and Isaac Pedretti 6. Sam Quinn 15 not out added some valuable runs at the close with the side 8-144 following their 40 overs.
The wickets were shared by Taradale bowlers Steven Curnow 2-9, Leigh Bennett 2-33 and Matt Curnow 2-36.
Taradale opener Anthony White started on the right foot with 13 before being caught by Ashley Lovick off the ball of Nathaniel Lowe, but then Taradale found themselves under siege with Richard Shill dismissed for 3 before Kym Szegedi and Steven Curnow fell for ducks.
Julian Vearing 19, Andrew Vance 10, Leigh Bennett 28 and Nicholas Worthington and Russell Muir 18 not out batted admirable for Taradale to try and reel the target back in. But the damage was done and they were eventually all out 123. Heathcote claiming the 25-26 flag.
Nathaniel Lowe led the way with the ball taking 3-13 and claiming ‘Player of the Match’ honours, Daniel Bell took 2-16 and Vineet Kumar 2-26.
Women
One-Day
In the Women’s Grand Final on Friday night, Campbells Creek Colts hosted Newstead at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve. Creek won the toss and elected to bowl sending Newstead in to bat first.
The Steaders’ opener Eve Righetti led from the front making 21 runs before retiring, Dawn McNabb also made a solid 19 before retiring not out. Newstead making 110 off their 15 over spell. Colts Jessica Cox 1-1 and Indiana McKenzie 1-19 were best with the ball.
Creek opener Louise Simpson notched up a handy 11 before retiring, Caz Walsh 9 and Johannah Maher 12 before retiring now out. The trio’s teammates dug in and tried their best to score vital runs but the side fell short of the target set making 89 off their 15 over tilt.
The Steaders’ Eve Righetti was on fire claiming 5-7 and Dawn McNabb took 3-10.
Newstead claiming the premiership honours.
Congratulations to Eve Righetti, awarded ‘Player of the Match’.
C Grade (Under 16)
Two-Day
In the C Grade (Under 16) Grand Final, Muckleford hosted Castlemaine United Gold at Muckleford Recreation Reserve. The home side won the toss and elected to bat.
The Muckleford side wasted no time racking up the runs with Seth Gross making 17 before being caught and bowled by Otis Whitesmith. Jack Smith 50 retired not out, Francis Walls 50 retired not out, Abraham Isdale 13, Aihen Turner 23 and Callum McGee 28 not out with the side winding up with 4-208 off their 40 overs.
The wickets were shared between Gold bowlers Will Fitzgerald 1-11, Otis Whitesmith 1-23 and Louis Parsons 1-32.
Gold started strongly in response with Louis Parsons making 25 before he was caught by Jack Smith off a ball from Abraham Isadale and Charlie Cordy made 17 before he was caught by Isdale off a delivery from Lewis Pepper.
Otis Whitesmith 8 and Coden Coulthard chipped in essential runs, before Ted Cordy 11 and Zane Davidge 14 put together a handy partnership.
Gold then ran into strife losing their next three batsman for just five runs before Noah Trainor made a late run with 17. Despite a top effort Gold fell short with 10-135 off 33.5 overs. Elise Curran was the pick of the bowlers for Muckleford with 2-12.
Muckleford was thrilled to claim the premiership honours. Jack Smith was awarded ‘Player of the Match’.
