Castlemaine District Cricket Association members braved scorching conditions to battle out their final round of competition before the festive season last weekend.
While it was hot, the weather was definitely kinder, enabling A Grade to complete their rain-affected two-day fixture for round eight.
A Reserve contested one-day matches in round 10, B Grade played one-day games in round nine and C Grade (Under 16) enjoyed one-day clashes in round six.
The final round of the T20 comp was contested Thursday night, and the Women also enjoyed a blazing round five comp on Friday evening.
Highlights of the round were Maiden Gully Lions A Grade bowler Brett Haw’s incredible 7-31 and Sam Winnard’s 6-42 for Newstead in the same clash.
A GRADE
Barkers Creek 10-128 lost to Muckleford 9-244 (Daniel Peckham 40, Patrick Leathem not out, Thomas Geddes 35, Edward Gingell 28, Dakota Slingo 28; Nash Robinson 5-66, Mark Noonan 2-74).
Newstead 10-166 (Ben Walter 47; Brett Haw 7-31) defeated Maiden Gully Lions 1-107 (Tim Bubb 70, Leigh Draper 41, Oliver McKenzie 29; Sam Winnard 6-42, Ben Walter 2-55).
Harcourt 9-176 (Thomas Gibbs 45, Scott Thompson 29; Charlie Warren 2-28, James Chaffey 2-35) lost to Castlemaine United 4-211 (James Chaffey 45, Darcy Carroll 43 not out, Levi Chaffet 38; Billy Jury 2-45, Tasman Scoles 2-55).
Guildford had the bye.
A RESERVE
Castlemaine United 3-103 (Adam Smolak 26, Samantha Brasher 21; defeated Campbells Creek Colts 10-101 (Thomas Bunting 18, Graeme Beith 16; Charlie Baker 3-16. Luke Kneebone 2-15).
Maiden Gully Lions 7-196 (Brodie Hogan 67, Robert Brown 66, Michael Rogers 20; Daniel Butler 3-17, David Wilson 2-19, Tim Gleeson 2-20) lost to Heathcote 5-198 (Brad Rowe 40, Nick Malavisi 33 not out, Daniel Butler 32, Cale Polson 31; Robert Brown 2-0).
Muckleford 9-135 (Brayden Wright 37, Callan Hough 24; Kristopher Bagley 2-14) defeated Newstead 10-97 (Paul Righetti 22, Stu Wam 15; Nash Turner 5-23, Lachlan Green 2-22).
North Castlemaine 10-155 (Thomas Cox 51, Gavin James 28; Leigh Bennett 3-29, Alec Burdon 3-29) defeated Taradale 10-134 (Lachlan Maltby 40, David Millard 32; John Howorth 4-8, Darren Hinck 3-24).
Harcourt had the bye.
B GRADE
Taradale 1-93 (Simon Marwood 52 not out, Justin Hancock 35 not out) defeated Muckleford 10-86 (Alex Cotterell 15, David Leathem 15; Robert Kennedy 3-5, Noah Maltby 3-26).
Newstead 8-169 (Gerald Chapman 54, Adam Sewell 22, Steven Shovan 22 not out; Angus Mychajlyszyn 2-24) defeated Guildford 7-163 (Angus Mychajlyszyn 72; Mark Allen 3-31).
Mia Mia 1-99 (Nathan Sims 53, Simon Dundas 41 not out) accounted for Barkers Creek 10-98 (Oliver Daldy 24, Callam De Bono 23; Seamus McKenna 5-31, Brodie Gamble 3-25).
Campbells Creek Colts 8-188 (Matthew Stahl 50 not out, Mark Macdougall 37; Isaac Pedretti 4-24, Mitchell Yanner 2-33) lost to Hepburn 5-308 (Nathaniel Lowe 104 not out, Corey Pedley 89, Lindsay Olver 50).
Castlemaine United had the bye.
WOMEN
Muckleford 72 (Marie Bourne 2-4) lost to Campbells Creek Colts 154 (Heather Grenon 28 not out, Caz Walsh 21 retired not out).
Barkers Creek 101 (Emily Baldwin 25 not out, Gabrielle Smith 15 not out; Tara Ford 2-18) lost to Hepburn 106 (Tara Ford 13 not out, Michelle Callahan 11 not out).
Castlemaine United Gold 52 (Bonnie Wills 9 retired not out; Andrea Brasher 3-1, Miho Barnett 2-3, Gabriella Guseli 2-4, Adalia Crandell 2-6) lost to Castlemaine United Blue 126 (Samantha Braser 26 retired not out, Miho Barnett 10 retired not out).
Newstead v Guildford – pending.
C GRADE (Under 16)
Castlemaine United Blue 2-103 (Harper Kneebone 29, Oliver Grainger 26 not out, Declan Brasher 18) defeated Colts Phelans 7-102 (Brett Coon 36, Charlie Erickson 30 not out; Declan Brasher 2-26).
Newstead 4-110 (Eve Righetti 30 retired not out, Fianna Gardner 23 not out; Jhi McKenzie 2-3) defeated Campbells Creek Colts 3-96 (Sebastian Collie 32 retired not out, Jakoby Noulton 19).
Maryborough 6-73 (Jaxon Carmody 27; Zachary Thompson 3-7, Brayden Allan 2-8) lost to Barkers/North/Harcourt 5-84 (Zachary Thompson 32 retired not out).
Carisbrook 10-29 (Gabriel O’Sullivan 4-0) lost to Castlemaine United Gold 3-125 (Charlie Cordy 31 retired not out, Gabriel O’Sullivan).
Muckleford had the bye.
T20
In Pool B Castlemaine United 9-87 (Levi Chaffey 22; Aidan Goddard 3-11, Declan Slingo 3-20, James Cole 2-17) lost to Muckleford 2-88 (Brayden Wright 33 not out, Declan Slingo 30 not out) in a low-scoring affair.
Muckleford will now take on Newstead in the T20 grand final to be contested at Mapson Timmins Oval on Thursday January 23 at 5.30pm.
Colts Phelans and Castlemaine United Blue went head to head in C Grade action at the Western Saturday morning. Photo: Max Lesser 
North’s John Howorth evades the ball at Wesley Hill. Photo: Max Lesser
