WANDELLA will take on Barham-Koondrook for a spot in this year’s Swan Hill District Cricket Association A Grade grand final this Saturday, after the Bombers held on for a hard-fought nine-run win over Ultima-TUF.
Woorinen’s loss to RSL, along with Nyah District’s win over St.Mary’s-Tyntynder opened the door either the Bombers or Roodogs to climb into the top four, with the match hanging in the balance until the dying overs.
In the end it was a two individual match winning performances that separated the teams, with Peter Moore rattling through the Ultima-TUF batting line-up, taking 6-34 from 20 overs to help Wandella progress.
Moore’s performance followed on from an equally impressive run-a-ball 42 from teammate Brodey Farley, who helped the Bombers reach triple figures.
It was Moore’s six-for that garnered the most praise from Wandella captain Ryan Barnes, who also commended the performance of young tearaway quick Laing Waddingham.
“He (Moore) has performed very well all season, but especially after Christmas, he bowls 10 plus overs most weeks, he hits his length and you can just rely on him,” Barnes said.
“He’s taken two five wicket hauls since the break and he’s a great asset to have in our team with the experience he brings and how he shares it with our younger players as well.
“Both our opening bowlers (Moore and Waddingham) bowled really well, they bowled in partnership and put it in key areas and bowled line and length, and Bohden (McKnight) put in a few good overs as well to help get us across the line.
“It was a pretty good wicket, but we just showed a bit of ticker and found a way to defend 104.”
Flynn McKnight (28) and Samuel Copland (14) put on a 40-run opening partnership to give Wandella a strong start with the bat, before the Bombers collapsed, losing their first eight wickets for just 29 runs, leaving them reeling at 8-69 before Farley’s late order hitting got them to a total of 104.
Josh Waldron was the pick of the Roodogs bowlers, taking 5-24, with Cassidy Sibley the only other multiple wicket taker with two.
Ultima-TUF’s run chase started in difficult fashion, losing key batters Lachlan Edwards (2), Kyle Symons (8) and Jacob Hatcher (6) early to leave the visitors in trouble at 3-17.
The Roodogs continued to lose regular wickets, with Kade Benfield (8), Mitchell Seton-Stewart (2) and Waldron (4) all departing cheaply, before a 33-run partnership between Jordan King (20) and Riley Hender (22) begun to turn the match.
It was Moore who came to the rescue, removing King with the score on 81, before dismissing Hender soon after, with Ultima-TUF losing their final four wickets for just 14 runs.
The win sets up a mouth-watering semi final against former Northern District rivals Barham-Koondrook, with Barnes expecting another fierce contest with a grand final berth on the line.
“We’re old rivals from the old league, we went head to head a few times in finals in the previous league and I’m sure the emotions will be high on Saturday again,” Barnes said.
“It (playing finals) means a hell of a lot to our club, we had a bit of a rough trot after Christmas, but to show the sort of heart the club has and to grind it out and qualify for finals is quite special.
“It’s our fourth year in the league and we’ve made the finals each year so far and as a club, that’s an achievement that we’re proud of, but one that we can hopefully build on and this year go a couple of steps better.”
