Bill West
Macedon cricketers had good reason to celebrate their Johnstone Shield premiership achieved at the weekend, with a strong case for promotion to the top tier McIntyre Cup next season.
The Cats came from fourth place on the ladder with pace bowler Matty Williams a matchwinner in the grand final as he demolished Romsey’s batting brigade by claiming 7-39 from 19 overs on Sunday.
Williams played down his performance, stating he had often bowled very well without securing anywhere near this haul.
Macedon came from fourth on the ladder to win the Johnstone Shield, and in both finals matches the top order batsmen struggled but the side dug deep to beat Bacchus Marsh and then Romsey.
First season club coach Tim Berzins was extremely pleased, pointing out that all four Macedon senior sides had made finals, and the Cats’ women’s side had won a premiership as well.
The grand final was played on the recently upgraded No. 1 oval at Romsey.
Cats’ skipper Daniel Trotta may have been wondering if the decision to bat was correct when five wickets were down for just 67.
In almost a repeat of the semi-final Chris Axton 36 and Chad Walker 33 led the recovery, and Berzins and Trotta felt 167 was a defendable tally.
Daniel Paterson spearheaded the Redbacks’ attack with lion-hearted 5-53 from 25 overs.
Williams soon played havoc with the new ball, and Romsey’s run chase floundered much to the dismay of home town supporters.
All out for 91 was two runs short of the side’s winning semi-final tally of 93 against Kilmore.
Top score was 19 from Jake East, batting at No. 9.
