Wy Yung has progressed to the 2025/26 Bairnsdale Cricket Association “A” grade grand final despite a dramatic collapse at Bullumwaal Road last Sunday against West Bairnsdale.
West Bairnsdale won the toss and batted on Saturday, being dismissed in the 77th over for just 153, with Brad Daniel top-scoring with an unbeaten 56.
He came to the crease with his side 6/83 in the 40th over, absorbing 117 balls in an innings that helped establish a total his teammates hoped might be defendable.
Earlier, skipper Ryan Halford made 45 from 78 balls, while all-rounder Brodie Anderson battled at the top of the order for 17 from 88 deliveries before succumbing to Charlie Thompson (2/26).
The Wy Yung bowling group impressed throughout, led by Damian Vicary (2/33 from 19 overs), with Guriqbal Singh working through the tail to claim 3/14.
Tiger openers Todd Murray and Cameron McPhan safely faced out the final three overs on day one.
McPhan fell early on day two without scoring.
Murray (21 from 86) and Daniel Gledhill (82 from 185) batted determinedly for 22 overs before Chris Hammond (5/48) bowled Murray, who had attempted a leg-side shot.
Hammond also dismissed Harry Forbes shortly after, while Gledhill and Ben Saxon (24) added 37 to steady the innings.
Following Saxon’s departure, bowled by Oscar Clarke, Gledhill became the scorer of the majority of the runs as his teammates focused on survival, with West sensing a chance to turn the game.
Singh and Stevie Bertino fell with the score at 6/132, followed by Ben Channing in the same over to Hammond, who continued to make the batsmen play.
A superb delivery from Anderson (2/22) and sharp keeping from Sam Watts saw Gledhill stumped with victory in sight at 8/140.
Vicary contributed 10 valuable runs as the Tigers were nine wickets down, needing just four to win with 12 overs remaining.
Charlie Thompson came to the crease and struck confidently, guiding Wy Yung home in a thrilling contest with back-to-back twos, perfectly setting the stage for an exciting grand final at the Bairnsdale City Oval.
