Maroons into final
Traralgon and District booked themselves a ticket to the senior Gippsland Cricket League final against Sale Maffra, with a win over Leongatha in the final round of the regular season.
The competition’s two provincial country week leagues will face off against each other on February 12 at Leongatha’s Scorpion Park, with Sale-Maffra aiming for back-to-back titles.
Sale-Maffra had a solid warm-up before the final, defeating Bairnsdale in a highscoring affair at Lucknow.
The closest match of the round came down to the last two overs between Central Gippsland and Warragul and District at Yallourn North.
After winning the toss, Central Gippsland played a steady innings to close at 9/211.
Captain Rory Hare was the main stayer with his second consecutive half century for the season, along with Marco Higgins who scored a half century of his own.
Others to get amongst the runs were Irishman Rob McKinley who whacked a quick fire 44, and English import Jordan Campbell who made 29.
The Wild Dog’s bowling was highlighted by paceman Sam Batson, who claimed a fivewicket haul, which including skittling three Central Gippsland players for ducks. Astonishingly, all five of Batson’s wickets were bowled.
Warragul chased down the required total in the 48th over to end their season on a winning note.
Hallora’s Fraser Duncan was the standout, with the opener making 83 before being forced to retire hurt with a leg injury.
In the middle order, Luke Radford hit some powerful shots in his innings of 35, as the final Warragul pair nervously negotiated the final few runs to see the visitor across the line.
Results: Central Gippsland 8/175cc def by Warragul and District 6/196; Bairnsdale 204 (H Erfurth 66, R Kyle 65, R Blandford 33, J Tatterson 4/32, R Diamond 3/34, J Rietschel 2/35) def by Sale-Maffra 9/221 (A Mellor 46, J Tatterson 42, B Scott 35, J Davis 35, M Latham 3/42, P Hill 3/48, S Davidson 2/23); Traralgon and District 6/234cc (L Stockdale 116, J Gilmore 40, A Jenkin 29, J Sheerin 3/45) def Leongatha and District 168 (J Van Rooye 39, S Dole 31, A Ratnaike 26, T Mann 3/29, M Warne 2/39)