How the Second Grade match was won

Victorious Molesworth I after Saturday's Southern Cricket
Association grand final win at Boyer Oval.

MOLESWORTH I defeated Montagu Bay by three wickets at Boyer Oval on Saturday in a match that was full of grand final nerves from start to finish. Montagu Bay won the toss and had first hit making 148 before being bowled out after 46 overs.

This low total was due to some very good bowling by the Molesworth attack. Larry Menzie and Nathan Eiszele both snared three wickets each, while Dean King with 2-16 from 10 was as good as any of his spells this season, and Martyn Evans picked up 1-29. At one stage the Sharks were 7 for 72, but recovered somewhat with a solid 70-run partnership from Roberts and Symington which then made the it a defendable total.

Molesworth I captain Jamie Adams
receives the SCA premiership cup
and shield from Megan Roberts.

In reply, Molesworth was traveling well at 1 for 56 but then lost Brad Coppleman for 22 and and Jake King 14 and were then 3-56. Then it was the brothers Jamie and Daniel Adams at the crease, with Jamie adding a valuable 26 for his team. The wickets fell again and Molesworth found itself 7-110, still needing 39 and the run rate was creeping up. But Molesworth still had an ace up its sleeve and that ace was Nathan Eiszele who took to the bowlers from the word go, hitting three 4s and two good 6s making a match-winning 43no. At the other end was a limping Martyn Evans who did his all through the Eiszele cameo and remained 4no and the victory was Molesworth's.

To make Eiszele's efforts even more creditable, he hadn't played for the past five weeks due to an ankle injury. Put together 3-29 and a runout with his 43no and its no wonder he was named man of the match.

Man of the match
Nathan Eiszele.

They say catches win matches and it couldn't have been truer on Saturday with Montagu Bay spilling five chances and missing a crucial runout late in the match. On the other hand, Molesworth put just one catch down and Mr Safe Hands Martyn Evans snared every opportunity taking three catches. It was a great win for Molesworth I which has now played in the past five Second Grade grand finals, winning the first one and now this one.

Captain Jamie Adams spoke very well during the after-match presentations, dedicating the season and two premierships to five-year-old Logan Tomlin who has leukaemia.

SCORES: Molesworth I 7 for 149 off 46.2 overs (9 extras) d Montagu Bay 10 for 148 off 46 overs at Boyer Oval. Molesworth batting: Nathan Eiszele 43 not out (3x4s, 2x6s), Jamie Adams 26 (1x4, 1x6), Brad Coppleman 22 (2x4s), Cody Neads 16, Jake King 14 (1x4). Molesworth bowling: Larry Menzie 3-15 (5), Nathan Eiszele 3-29 (9), Dean King 2-16 (10), Martyn Evans 1-29 (6).