TWO seasons after joining the SHDCA, Wandella have reached their first A Grade grand final – defeating perennial powerhouse Nyah District by 34 runs in the semi-final.
The chase of 163 posted by the Bombers seemed a tad below par, but a brilliant bowling display by the form team of the competition ensured they would get another crack at the Saints on the big stage.
After losing to the Saints in the Kookaburra Cup final on Australia Day, the Bombers have gone unbeaten in six games.
Bombers captain Gregory Dickson told Gannawarra Times he had been urging his charges to capitalise on this momentum.
“Momentum has been a key for us,” he said.
“Saturday was six on the trot, and I always tell the boys, whatever position we find ourselves in, we have to find a way to believe that we can win.”
With the Demons 0/50 in their chase and with chances being grassed, that edict from Dickson was tested heavily on Saturday afternoon.
The dismissal of Charlie Boulton was followed by an even bigger breakthrough when Ethan McKnight snicked off star bat Joel Walsh for a golden duck.
“That was a massive moment,” Dickson said.
“When (Walsh is) in, they are always confident that he’ll get the job done for them – so to get him first rock was vital.”
The fast-bowling brothers Ethan and Bohden McKnight, along with Ryan Barnes, have been the Bombers’ strength this second half of the season, and they proved so again on Saturday, taking seven wickets between them.
“I just try and encourage them to bowl in the right areas,” Dickson said.
“All of St Mary’s batsmen are pretty aggressive, so we can’t afford to give them loose ones this week.”
The Bombers will head in as underdogs again against the Saints this weekend, but it would be a brave man who writes them off.
