In a remarkable finish on Sunday, Malmsbury division one cricketers held their nerve under pressure to defeat Woodend by ONE run.
Now Malmsbury hosts the grand final at the MCG this Saturday against fourth-placed Gisborne – winners by five runs over Bacchus Marsh in a low-scoring thriller.
Rain disruptions on Saturday forced matches to be completed on Sunday in almost all grades, and Malmsbury resumed at 1/85 from 19 overs at Gilbert Gordon Oval on Sunday, eventually being dismissed for 170.
In-form Matt Cox followed up his 126 in the previous match to score 63 (10 fours) and David Nolte 19, Guy Nelson 16, Ryder Blizzard 15 and Nathan Fisher and Palmy Singh – both 13 – made useful runs. Extras contributed 22.
Brandon Sliwczynski captured 5-39 from eight overs for the Woodsmen.
Pacemen Blizzard and Kyle Fisher put the brakes on Woodend’s early batsmen, and despite a couple of missed chances, good fielding helped push the required run rate up.
Matt Cox captured the key wickets of Marcus Stewart 33 and captain Brett Gardner 46, and with fours overs remaining, Woodend needed 30 for victory.
Cox and JD Singh bowled tightly, and in a dramatic finish Woodend finished at 4/169 with Xavier Tadd unbeaten on 40.
Malmsbury CC hopes there is a large attendance of supporters at the MCG on Saturday for the grand final.
