Wade's grand final cricket tips

HERE are local cricket writer Wade Gleeson's tips for the two Southern Cricket Association grand final matches featuring local teams this Saturday.

SECOND GRADE
Gretna I v Sorell at Gretna, 10.30am on Saturday

This match looks to be a ripper with the top two teams to battle it out for supremacy in the 2018-19 season. Gretna made it through to the big dance with a good win over Sorell in the second semi-final and with the grand final being played at Gretna, I’m tipping the home team to defeat Sorell by two wickets or 20 runs.

Craig Cunningham, Mathew Burns and Corey Ransley should get among the runs while Aaron Maddox, Peter Jelkic and Ben Rainbird will take important wickets and Jamie Duggan will effect a vital run out. It’s been 11 years since Gretna I last played in a grand final and this was back in the Derwent Valley Cricket Association when they won their fifth A-Grade premiership in a row in 2007/08. Of the 12 players from that team, five players are still playing in the current team, which will add plenty of finals experience come game day.

THIRD GRADE
New Norfolk II v MacKillop Beltas at Tynwald Park, 10.30am on Saturday

I’m tipping the Red Caps by 46 runs or four wickets. With the match being played at Tynwald Park and New Norfolk not losing a match this season it will take a huge effort for the visitors to knock off this team.

The last time these two teams met, New Norfolk won by 16 runs in a low scoring match with New Norfolk defending 124. I called it in their last match and I call it again. Stewart Rice, who loves to play on Tynwald, will play a big part in this important match. Jake King will make a good score as will Aaron Drew. Richard Graham should finish with very tidy bowling figures, Jamie Hill will take two very important wickets late in the match and Cody Morgan-Colman will capture early wickets from his first three overs. Cody Neads should take a classic catch.

WADE GLEESON