Combine in a ripper

Swifts-great Western clinched a hat-trick of Grampians Cricket Association A Grade premierships after a dramapacked long weekend of action at Stawell’s Central Park.

The Combine found its way to victory against Youth Club through the ‘back door’, winning the season climax with an outright after initially looking down the barrel of a first-innings loss.

The game had everything, with 36 wickets tumbling across the weekend, a century-maker, another collecting a six-wicket haul and a clinic of match-winning big-hitting.

Youth Club won the toss on Saturday and batted but staggered to only 114 before Swifts-great Western responded with a meagre 105.

Youth Club, holding a nine-run lead, then batted again with a century to Nic Baird, 102, steering the Clubbers to 173 and a 182-run lead.

But the advantage wasn’t enough with the reigning premier using 35 of 40 overs on offer to reel in and eventually pass the target with six wickets down.

On Saturday, Youth Club was in early trouble at 3-16, which included run-machine Baird and the Combine’s Matt Heffer, 4-21, damaging with the ball.

A 49-run partnership between Trent Homden and Ethan Marrow steadied the ship, but after Homden fell it was a steady fall of wickets with the innings ending on 114.

Jayden Mccarthy joined Heffer in the wicket spoils, capturing 3-31.

In the 22 overs still available on the first day, the Combine then lost 5-59, its innings showing promise until the introduction of Cam Kimber to the bowling crease.

Kimber managed to dismiss four batsmen in quick succession to leave Rick Peters, 17, and Tom Fitzgerald, 3 not out at stumps.

Peters showed signs in his 29 before being run out by Jarrod Illig that he was ‘on’, and his batting form proved critical later in the game.

The Combine limped to 105, Kimber starring with figures of 6-26.

Batting a second time the Clubbers quickly lost wickets to be 4-13, until the association’s top run-getter Baird went to the rescue.

At stumps on Sunday the Clubbers were 4-110, with Baird sitting on 88.

But the drama continued on Monday. Baird departed with the score at 6-139, having hit 14 fours and a six, but his absence limited Youth Club’s ability to press on to a more comfortable position.

Youth Club then appeared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, dismissing run-making Sam Cocks with the first ball of the Combine’s second innings and then Tom Eckel in the second over.

But at 2-0 Peters returned to the wicket with his side having little to lose and smashed his way to 96 and a Steve ‘Wombat’ Smith Medal and his team to victory.

Baird described Peters’ knock as some of the best clean hitting he’d seen.

“The way Rick Peters hit the ball was quite amazing. Everything was out of the middle,” he said.

Aiden Graveson and Travis Nicholson also made runs in the dramatic chase.

Baird, disappointed with the loss but happy to be part of such a dramatic final, said the contest was a credit to both sides.

“There were ebbs and flows throughout he whole game. It was never one-way traffic. As a player it was nerve-wracking and no time did anyone feel comfortable, it was an absolute corker,” he said.

“We agreed anyone independent of the teams would have paid money to watch the grand final.

“It was one of the better ones in recent years and personally, the only thing I would change if I could would be the result.”