By ONE SHORT

A prediction that Grampians Cricket Association semi-finals would be a repeat of the final round became reality when Buangor-Tatyoon crushed Pomonal and Swifts-Great Western easily put down Youth Club.

Semi-finals will now involve Buangor-Tatyoon taking on Pomonal at Tatyoon and Swifts-Great Western playing Youth Club at Stawell’s Central Park.

Last week at Central Park, Swifts-Great Western chose to bat and posted a healthy score of 4-221 at nearly five-and-a-half runs per over.

The bulk of this score was notched by  Eckel brothers Tom, 96, and Jesse, 65, who shared a 138-run partnership.

Faced with this score, Youth Club managed only 57 from 24 overs with the Combine’s main wicket takers Matt Heffer, 5-10, and Chad Gilmour, 3-12.

Buangor-Tatyoon chose an alternative option in its game and invited Pomonal to bat and promptly dismissed it for a paltry 48 off 35 overs.

Callum Baker led the bowling with 3-6 and James Phillips, Michael Harricks and Ashley Maconachie took two wickets each.

The Hawks took just 14 overs to reach the score, losing only two wickets to finish at 2-57. 

With a repeat of last week’s round of matches, Pomonal and Youth Club have the task of turning around heavy defeats to make it to the grand final.

Many would say this is impossible, but to use that well-known quote ‘cricket is a funny game’ they are not without hope. 

But it will take a total team effort for them to prevail. 

At Tatyoon, Clayton Mackley, Lyndon Brewis, Matt Peel and Lachie Green must bring their A game to keep out Zander McDougall, Callum Baker, Michael Harricks and James Phillips, all of whom appreciate their home pitch.

Whatever score they post, Tigers bowlers Mackley, Green, Pat Frawley and Lachy Dalkin must bowl tight line and length to put pressure on Hawks batsmen Jarrod Blandford, Shaun Allen, Jack Ganley, Jacob Bates, and free hitter Michael Harricks.

Youth Club will have a real struggle to turn around a 180-run loss and it will all fall on Nic Baird’s shoulders. 

He is the only Clubbers batsman capable of getting that big score required to build a competitive total.

The problem for the Clubbers is that the Combine can still add Jay Moody and Charlie Neild to its attack. 

The Clubbers would be hoping to add a couple of players to their list this week as well.

Junior cricket wound up on Sunday with Swifts-Great Western winning back-to-back premierships by defeating Halls Gap. 

Scores were 9-127 to 119. Best for the Combine were Owen Summers, 31, with the bat and Juddy Smith, 4-15, with the ball. 

Earlier, Halls Gap, by reason of its unbeaten season, was awarded the under-13s premiership.

This week: Semi-finals, Buangor-
Tatyoon v Pomonal at Tatyoon, Swifts-Great Western v Youth Club, Central Park, Stawell.

Last week: Buangor-Tatyoon 2-57 d Pomonal 48 (C Baker 3-6), Swifts-Great Western 4-221 (T. Eckel 96, J. Eckel 65, S. Cocks 36; H. Evans 3-37) d Youth Club 57 (N. Baird 26; M. Heffer 5-10, C. Gilmour 3-12).

Final ladder: Swifts-Great Western 45, 2.73 percent; Buangor-Tatyoon 42, 1.87; Youth Club 24, 0.68; Pomonal 18, 0.44; St Andrews 15, 0.60.

The entire February 24, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire February 24, 2021 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!