Second week of the cricket finals reviewed

Gretna I allrounder Aaron Maddox made 53
and took 3-23 in his team's big win.

Kookaburra Southern Cricket Association 

Second Week of Finals
March 7


FIRST GRADE - 2ND SEMI-FINAL: A spot in the grand final on their home turf beckoned! New Norfolk I - needing 263 for victory and looking down the barrel at 4-49 in the 14th over - needed a saviour! Enter the match winner Jason “Riggers” Rigby! Facing the innings of his life, the man with a cool head ceased the opportunity, scoring a century of 110 not out from just 104 deliveries. The talented allrounder hit seven 4s and five 6s in what was described as the best innings seen at Tynwald Park in some time. Rigby needed some level heads with him to get the Red Caps home and he got it from Jordan Banks-Smith whose patient innings of 31 from 85 was telling in the result that followed. The pair put on the grand partnership of 117. When Banks-Smith was bowled in the 40th over with the score at 5/166, there was still plenty to do, in fact 97 was needed from 66 balls. Small in stature, but big in determination, young Cody Neads then produced 30 from just 16 deliveries, clearing the fence on four occasions. Neads and Rigby hammered 55 from 29. When Neads was out, a second cameo followed from power-hitter Nathan Eiszele with 35 not out from a measly 15 balls faced. Eiszele hit 24 runs in boundaries with three 4s and two 6s. He and Rigby chased down the 42 needed from just 24 deliveries. The Red Caps were home, finishing 6/263 off 48.2 overs and a home grand final locked in for two weeks' time! Earlier, when Wellington won the toss and batted, it finished 9/262 off the 50 overs. It was again the Rigby show as he bagged himself 4-47 from his 10 overs in what was an excellent all round performance. Thomas Briscoe took 2-65 (10) while Josh Rowlands and captain Matthew Bowden both collected one each.

Gretna's Mathew Burns took a double hat-trick.

SECOND GRADE - PRELIMINARY FINAL: Great all-round efforts from Mathew Burns  and Aaron Maddox helped Gretna I book itself into its second grand final in as many seasons. Playing at home in overcast conditions, Gretna won the toss and had first hit, making 5/224 from its 50 overs. Openers Ben Rainbird 48 (80) six 4s and a 6, and Jamie Duggan 16 (55) laid the foundation putting on 49. Rainbird and Rhys Browning 23 (38) added a further 44. When both went at 93 and 98, Mathew Burns 32 (39) and Jackson Ackerly 31 (50) then put on 48. Then with just under 10 overs remaining, Aaron Maddox joined Ackerly at the crease and the pair put on a valuable 77 for the fourth wicket. Maddox went at it from the word go, hitting five 4s and two 6s in his total of 53no from 39 deliveries. In reply, St Anne's wase going steady at 3/86 but then incredibly lost 7/9 with medium pacer Mathew Burns the destroyer, taking wickets at will and collecting a double hat-trick that changed the match very quickly. St Anne's was all out for 95 off 35.4 overs. Burns took two wickets in his last two balls of one over, and then two more in his next. After his 10 overs he finished with figures of 5-25 with one maiden. Aaron Maddox capped off a great day finishing with 3-23 from 7.4 overs to go with his half-century while captain Ben Rainbird with his spinners took 2-26 (8). Well done to keeper Glenn Blackwell who played his 300th match for Gretna I. Blackwell put in a good effort behind the stumps with one stumping and two catches, with one of those being the hat-trick. It certainly was good vibes at Gretna. It will now play New Norfolk I in the Second Grade grand final at Tynwald Park on Saturday.

FOURTH GRADE - PRELIMINARY FINAL: Playing at home for a spot in the grand final, Bothwell I went down to St Virgil’s by 47 runs. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, making the defendable total of 10/291 from 46.5 overs. Matthew Eyles as always bowling very well, took three of the top five batsmen and finished with 4-31 (10). Opener Brock Nichols did well taking 2-36 from his 10. Captain Cody Eyles chipped in with 2-40 (6.5) while Nathan White who was called into the side took 1-37 (10). In reply, the Bucks lost regular wickets finishing 10/154 from 47.1 overs. At number four, Cody Eyles top-scored with 39 (75) with three 4s. Matthew Eyles made 29 (one 4), opener Mark Pearce 26 (46) two 4s and Nathan White 24 (37) with three 4s. After winning the last nine roster matches, Bothwell bowed out of the finals in straight sets. It was not the result they were after, but on the positive side the Bucks have again been very competitive and can certainly take a lot into next season. 

WADE GLEESON

NEXT MATCHES
Saturday, March 14
All matches start at 10.30am.

FIRST GRADE - Preliminary Final: Wellington v Rokeby at Eady St Oval No.1.

SECOND GRADE - Grand Final: New Norfolk II v Gretna I at Tynwald Park.

THIRD GRADE - Grand Final: St Aidans v Bagdad at Cambridge Oval.

FOURTH GRADE - Grand Final: Hobart v Bagdad at Wentworth Park.

FIFTH GRADE - Grand Final: Lindisfarne v Rokeby at Lindisfarne Oval No.2.

SIXTH GRADE - Grand Final: St Anne's v MacKillop at Cadbury Oval No.1.

SEVENTH GRADE - Grand Final: Wellington v Derwent at Cloak Oval, Old Beach.