Molesworth into second-grade final

Gretna Cricket Club member Ben Shaw mops up the water
around the Boyer Oval pitch before the preliminary final
between Molesworth I and Gretna I last Saturday.

MOLESWORTH is into the Southern Cricket Association second-grade grand final after defeating Gretna I by three wickets in a close encounter and controversial preliminary final at Boyer Oval last Saturday.

Molesworth captain Brad Coppleman had a six-wicket haul and then when chasing 206 to win and needing 52 with three wickets in hand, Molesworth duo Mathew Smith (36 not out) and Dean King (20 not out) guided their team to victory with nine balls to spare. Earlier, Jamie Adams made 38 with some clean hitting and two very good sixes. Adams put on 52 with Brad Coppleman (20), while opener Cody Neads made 33.

Spinner Matthew Eyles was the main wicket-taker for Gretna with four. After winning the toss, Gretna did well to make 205 on what was a damp service from all the rain. Openers Ben Rainbird (37) and Damien Hack (16) got their team to a good start putting on 60. Gretna then slumped to 8-135 before a last wicket stand of 43 from Corey Ransley (39no) and Daniel Browning (15) then took the total to 205. Nathan Eiszele bowled well taking 3-30 but it was Brad Coppleman who did the damage with his six wickets.

This match had everything for the spectator and Molesworth is now into its fourth straight second-grade grand final it but wasn't without controversy and the captains' reports should make for interesting reading in relation to the umpires' decision on a bowler who appeared to have exceeded his 10 overs and took a wicket with the first ball of his 11th over.

This incident takes nothing away from Molesworth's win. Congratulations and good luck in the big one this Saturday against New Norfolk I. It should be a great match! And well done to the Derwent Valley Council for mowing the oval and doing all they could to have the ground ready last Saturday after all the rain. The super-soaker arranged by Gretna did a great job removing the water from around the pitch.

SCORES - SECOND GRADE PRELIMINARY FINAL
Molesworth 7 for 206 off 48.3 overs (16 extras) d Gretna I 10 for 205 off 48.1 overs (29 extras) at Boyer Oval.
Batting - Gretna: C. Ransley 39 not out, B. Rainbird 37, M. Burns 19, J. Ackerly 17, D. Hack 16, M. Eyles 14, D. Browning 15. G. Blackwell 14. Bowling - Molesworth: B. Coppleman 6-36 (10.1), N. Eiszele 3-30 (10), J. Adams 1-41 (8).
Batting - Molesworth: J. Adams 38, M. Smith 36no, C. Neads 33, B. Coppleman 20, D. King 20no, N. Eiszele 19, N. Piuselli 11. Bowling - Gretna: M. Eyles 4-52  (10), C. Ransley 2-29 (10), D. Browning 1-37 (8.3).