GRAMPIANS has continued its dominant season, collecting the Hamilton and District Cricket Association One-Day Shield with victory against Pigeon Ponds at Dahl Turf on Thursday.
It was a thrilling contest with late wickets giving both teams a chance at victory, with the Pumas reaching the target with less than three overs to spare.
Grampians skipper Will Collins called correctly at the toss and gave his bowlers first use of the pitch, with scoring tough for Ponds opening batsmen, Simon Close and skipper, Peter Staude.
It wasn’t until the 26th ball of the innings that the first run came off the bat, with Simon Close the only batsman in the top five to reach double figures.
Regular wickets was the trend throughout, as Will Staude chipped in with 10 runs in the middle order, but it was Close who was pacing his innings and ensured he’d be able to carry his team to a defendable total.
Lachie Craig blasted 11-not-out down the order, while Close was eventually dismissed for 88, as Pigeon Ponds’ innings ended a ball early when the final wicket fell on 148.
Josh Gordon (three wickets) and Harrison Wood (two wickets) showed there was plenty of assistance in the pitch for spinners, while Stefan Burnell and Ryan Burgess also collected two wickets each.
The Pumas’ run chase was steady from the outset, knowing the total they needed, but the Ponds bowlers backed up and ensured Grampians also found it hard to find the boundary.
When Ty Gilmore nicked off to Jack Beaton, it was the boost the northern team was after, but a 71-run partnership between Collins and Zac Burgess shifted the match to the Pumas’ favour.
When Collins fell for 40, the team was cruising at 2-89, but regular wickets from then on kept Ponds in the game.
Zac fell soon after for 42 and only Carl Joyce (10) and Joe Sutherland (19-not-out) reached double figures, with the Pumas eventually winning with two wickets in hand.
Beaton did his best to give his team a sniff, finishing with 3-13 from his nine overs.
Collins told The Spectator after the game it was an all-round performance from his team.
“I think we bowled really well to restrict the best batting side in the competition to under 150,” he said.
“Credit to them though, they fought back really well and got wickets to get into our middle and lower order, but very happy to get over the line in the end.
“For us to bowl the first six, seven or eight overs and them not get off to a flyer, which they can do, it was important.”
The choice to bowl first also looked a master stroke, with teams often favouring runs on the board in a big game.
Collins said the pitch condition played into the decision at the toss.
“We’d had a look at the pitch, but we thought it was a bit soft on top and thought there would be a bit in it for our bowlers early on then it would flatten out as the game went on.
“The ball wasn’t coming onto the bat well and so I think it was the right call.
“We were very happy to keep them to what we did, so I thought we were in a good position at the innings break.”
Staude said it was a good experience to get to play in a final as a team.
“It was a good effort to get here, we had a couple of good wins during the home and away season and it was a good challenge,” he said.
“It is a good learning curve that finals come down to little moments in the game.”
Close was named man of the match for his 88 runs and one wicket.
