GRAMPIANS and Casterton District will meet in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association C grade grand final next Saturday after both teams enjoyed one-sided victories in their respective semi-finals.

Grampians d Macarthur

DUNKELD Turf saw Macarthur win the toss and elect to bat first, seeking to post a target that Grampians couldn’t chase down.

The Demons had performed magnificently throughout the summer after being promoted mid-season to the higher grade from the D grade competition, as they reached the finals and looked to take the Pumas down on their home ground.

After Chris Moutray (two) and Ian Brilley (13) were out early, Matt Timms showed his experience at number three by guiding the Demons through to a tally of 5-169 from the 40 overs.

Timms was brilliant, as he kept the Pumas attack at bay to reach 77 with three overs remaining and he then opened his shoulders to add another 41 runs to his score in those overs to finish with 118-not-out from only 112 balls with 14 boundaries and a maximum from the final ball of the innings.

Myles Alderman (2-26) was the best of the home side’s attack with the bowling unit keeping the Demons to around four runs per over.

After the tea break, Grampians had the experience of Greg Millard and the youth of Levi Templeton stride to the middle looking to give the Pumas a solid foundation for the run chase.

The pair were so good that they came within six overs of reeling in the target on their own, but Millard (54) fell to Timms with 131 on the board, while Templeton (84-not-out) and Eddie McShane (26-not-out) added the required 39 runs to record a nine-wicket victory.

Casterton District d Hamilton

THE curator at Dahl Turf produced a beautiful batting surface for this game but Hamilton failed to take advantage of its home ground conditions, as the Casterton District bowlers produced a diligent line and length after electing to bowl first on winning the toss.

Hamilton had posted 10 wins for the summer based on good batting performances, but that form deserted the side on Saturday, as the home side only posted 104 with Tyler Ellis (21) the only player to reach 20.

Jake Tomkins (4-23) was the pick of the Maroons’ attack, as he sent the top three in the order back to the pavilion cheaply, while Justin Carlin and William Potter grabbed two wickets each in support.

Despite the early wicket of Carlin (two), Casterton District had little trouble in chasing down the runs required, as Mark Penny (30-not-out) and Kane Forbes (59-not-out) added 104 undefeated runs for the second wicket to book a spot in the grand final.