The Kincumber-Avoca Griffins have secured a spot in the 2020 Final of the Coast’s first grade two-day cricket competition with a resounding win over minor premiers, Lisarow Ourimbah, at Bill Sohier Park.
Griffins captain, Dan Heuston, made a big call, winning the toss and sending Lisarow-Ourimbah in to bat first on a slow wicket and slow outfield.
For a while, it looked like the decision may have backfired as the Magpies carved their way to 30 runs without loss at the first drinks break.
Matt Jones and Blair Lyndsay threatened to build a partnership with some patient stroke play.
But enter Dylan Robertson, the Griffin’s lanky left-arm off-spinner.
In a marathon spell of 3 overs, Robertson tormented the life out of the Lisarow batsmen, finding a good length and getting the ball to bite off the wicket.
Eventually, the wickets started to tumble, first Shepheard for 9 and then Blair Lyndsay for 30, and then the tail, with the Magpies scrambling to be all out for 115.
Robertson eventually finished with 6 wickets for just 16 runs.
Steve McCabe then led Kincumber Avoca’s run chase with an aggressive knock of 56, combing with skipper, Dan Heuston, to get the Griffin’s over the line and into the Final in two weeks.
It’s not exactly the best time for a form slump for Lisarow-Ourimbah, who’ve now lost their last two games after looking invincible for much of the year.
In the other semi-final, Northern Power’s charge to the final came to end, when they were comfortably beaten by Narara-Wyoming at Gavenlock Oval.
Zac Abel and Chris Archer put on a 58 run stand, but it was not enough in the end.
Kierin Lawson did the damage for Narara, taking 4 wickets for just 13 runs off 20 overs, before Peter Cross and Mark McLachlan put on a 70-odd run second wicket stand, to steer the Lions to 3-102 and a spot in next week’s preliminary final.
Cross finished undefeated on 62 off just 72 balls.
Narara Wyoming will now play Lisarow-Ourimbah next week for the remaining spot in the final.
In the Women’s T20, Southern Spirit smashed 102 runs off just 10 overs to beat Warnervale Blue in the preliminary final.
After winning the toss and sending Warnervale in to bat, Spirit captured three early wickets, including the dangerous, Piper Hooke, to restrict Warnervale to 5-100 over their allotted 20 overs.
Sally Oman, returning from her 4 match “pink shirt” suspension, took 2-14 for Spirit.
In reply, Southern Spirit pair, Nicole Cattley and Chelsea Campbell, then put on an aggressive batting masterclass to steer their team to victory in just 10 overs.
Cattley finished unbeaten on 53 and Campbell on 37.
Spirit will now take on Northern Power Orange in this weekend’s season final.
Reporter: Ross Barry