Castlemaine District Cricket Association sides overcame blistering heat and overnight rain to complete their grand final showdowns last weekend.
The Women kicked off the weekend with a grand final battle at Hepburn on Friday night where the home side emerged victorious over Newstead.
A Grade and C Grade (Under 16s) began two-day contests on Saturday and A Reserve and B Grade sides played rapid-fire one-day matches to decide their premiers.
Highlights of the round were Hepburn batsman Nathaniel Lowe’s 115 in their win over Mia Mia, and Castlemaine United C Grader Gabriel O’Sullivan’s 4-13 with the ball to help his side to a win over Barkers/North/Harcourt.
Results were:
A GRADE
Castlemaine United Cricket Club has won the flag after a close battle with rivals Guildford at the Camp Reserve. Guildford won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat.
Guildford made 7-158 (Troy Thomas 68, Tom Reece 22, Charles Bunting 20; David George 4-33, James Chaffey 2-35).
Rain overnight threatened to wash out play but the sides battled on Castlemaine United making 7-161 (David George 66 not out, Brian Brasher 30, James Chaffey 21; Cordie McKendry 3-39, Jack Casley 2-24, Matthew Manning 2-51) to claim the prize.
A RESERVE
Taradale 7-173 (Brock Fletcher 58, Steve Learmonth 30, Andrew Vance 25, Leigh Bennett 20 not out; Levi Bruce 3-18) took the honours over North Castlemaine 7-169 (Nathan Anderson 57, Jamie Allan 32, Ken Chapman 22, Karsen Beer 16; Daniel Maerz 4-35) at Wesley Hill.
B GRADE
Mia Mia 10-263 (Nathan Sims 71, Seamus McKenna 68 not out, John O’Sullivan 42, Simon Dundas 31; Nathaniel Lowe 4-63, Isaac Pedretti 2-24, Lucinda Lowe 2-44) lost to a determined Hepburn 3-267 (Nathaniel Lowe 115, Ashley Lovick 57, Corey Pedley 43 not out, Vineet Kumar 26 not out) at Mia Mia. The home side set a great target for Hepburn to chase but couldn’t follow through with the ball.
WOMEN
Hepburn 107 (Jennifer Schellekens 17 retired not out, Lucinda Lowe 10 retired not out; Fianna Gardner 2-9) were victorious over Newstead 101 (Eve Righetti 17 retired not out, Gen Butler 11 retired not out).
C GRADE (Under 16)
Barkers/North/Harcourt 5-59 (Jordan Hardy 21 not out, Levi Bruce 10; Gabriel O’Sullivan 4-13) lost to Castlemaine United Golf 9-114 (Charlie Cordy 47, Louis Parsons 37; Zachary Thompson 3-19, Benjamin Jardine 2-15, Fletcher McAinch 2-23).
