Sale-Maffra Cricket Association atoned for last year’s defeat in the Gippsland Cricket League grand final by easily accounting for the Bairnsdale Cricket Association in this year’s finale played last Sunday at Stratford.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Sharks, but they did eventually win by 105 runs after looking in trouble during their innings at 5/67 before a 73-run partnership between former Orbost player Max Welsh (46) and Anthony Scott (33) propelled Sale-Maffra to a score of 222, despite being dismissed in the 46th over.
Hard-hitting Englishman Freddie Fellows (27), skipper Jack Rietschel (25) and Jack Tatterson (18) also made valuable contributions in the context of the match.
Major wicket takers for Bairnsdale were skipper Ryan Halford (3/24), spinner Connor Mitchell (2/55) and seamer Jack Timms (2/25).
In reply Bairnsdale was tracking along nicely at 2/78, before losing 6/25, dismissed in the 35th over for just 117.
Brodie Anderson top scored with a classy 41, while Scott Dare (20) and Jake Timms (18) were solid.
The wickets for the Bulls were shared between man of the match Fellows (4/13), Dylan Bolton (3/24) and Tatterson (2/25).
The Sale-Maffra Cricket Association women’s team was successful in the women’s final, making 6/185 before restricting Leongatha to 9/136.
PRESENTATIONS
After the match the Gippsland Cricket League seasonal awards were handed out, with Halford winning the Alan Rankin Memorial Trophy for his season’s effort as the leading player.
Sale-Maffra stalwart John Tatterson was the recipient of the George Munro Shield for his outstanding contribution to the promotion and advancement of junior representative cricket within Gippsland. John was a loyal servant to the region for over 15 years, being a founding member of the Gippsland Junior Development Committee, serving for over a decade including as secretary as well as acting as manager or coach of Gippsland Pride teams at various age group levels for nine years.
John is the third Sale-Maffra affiliated person to earn this award after Graeme Anderson and Ken Bailey
OTHER GCL MATCHES
In under 15 action Bairnsdale went down to Sale-Maffra in a 20/20 match at Hudson-Alvin Oval.
Bairnsdale batted first, making 5/100, with Will Davidson (33), Noah Mathers (22) and Des Hine (21) among the runs.
The Bulls knocked the total off in just 13 overs for the loss of three wickets.
In the under 13s Bairnsdale won their third match off the season which enabled it to finish on top of the ladder.
They will host the grand final at Lucknow this Sunday against Cricket Latrobe Valley.
Last Sunday at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve, Sale-Maffra accumulated 4/87 in a 20/20 fixture, Bairnsdale chasing the score down in the 16th over for the loss of three wickets.
The stars for Bairnsdale were Fletcher Watt (50 from 38) and Oakley Hughes (2/15).