BATTLE FELT LIKE A FINAL
Grovedale wins a thriller off ball with wicket to spare
GROVEDALE claimed a thrilling one-wicket win over Lara off the final ball of the day, with reigning Jack Sing medallist Gareth Yelland striking an unbeaten 67-ball 51 to steer the Tigers home in what captain Barry Tsitas described as a “finals-like contest”.
“Our plan at the start of the day was to bat the 85 overs and we were confident that if we were able to do that we’d win,” Tsitas said after the match.
“It would have been nice to get that earlier and not make it so tight, but when you come up against good sides you’re not going to get it easy.
“That was as close to a final as you can get, it’s like a 12point win for us.”
Chasing 268, the Burdoo Reserve host lost Anthony Quarrell (6) and Jordan Moran (7) by the time it had reached 13, forcing Luke Ford (71) and Adam Korth (53) to first consolidate, before growing into their natural games.
“Luke’s got a couple of starts this year and showed his class today,” Tsitas said of the left-hander’s 206-minute stay.
“Korthy set it up for us before tea and he’ll be disappointed how he went out.”
When Korth departed at 102, Ford was joined by Tobias Hogg whose polished 67-ball 40 propelled the score to 174 before he fell victim to an outstanding return catch by Cats paceman Luke Wilson.
A steady procession of wickets appeared set to send the points Lara’s way, but Yelland held his nerve and controlled the final overs to get his side over the line with just one ball to spare.
“He showed a bit of faith in the tail there,” Tsitas said.
“Gareth has done it time and time again, he’s a champion of the game.”
Lara skipper Daniel Weigl turned in a marathon spell of 31 overs to claim 3-106, while Wilson’s 24 overs of toil produced 2-48. Sam Purdy finished with 2-40 from 11 overs.