Wy Yung has captured its sixth Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) premiership, after defeating Lindenow South Glenaladale in a hard-fought decider at the Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday.
The Tigers resumed at 0/20, chasing 87 for victory, and despite some anxious moments, they managed to get home in the 40th over for the loss of just three wickets.
Wy Yung certainly got the better of the conditions, but in saying that the wicket still offered up plenty for the bowlers, and the Tigers certainly batted more positively.
Their ability to tick the strike over and bring the left hand/right hand combination into play, when Todd Murray was at the crease, certainly helped share the load and rotate responsibility.
A week earlier, the Bulls batters spent long sustained periods of time in survival mode, which added no scoreboard pressure when they eventually succumbed on a difficult wicket to accumulate runs on.
For Todd and Darcy Murray, skipper Steve Bertino, coach Ben Saxon and Daniel Gledhill it was their fourth “A” grade premiership victory in just seven years.
Twelfth man, Sean Philipson, also played in the successes of 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.
Cameron McPhan (19 from 38) was keen to play shots whenever possible on the resumption on Saturday.
Eventually he picked the wrong ball, holing out to Logan Dunkley off Mel Irish (1/17), leaving the Tigers at 1/25.
Daniel Gledhill (28 from 67) joined Todd Murray (12 from 92) and they added 29 for the second wicket off 12 overs.
The going was slow and steady, with the breaks not going the way of the Bulls.
Todd Murray fell to Logan Dunkley (2/20), who bowled superbly from the town end, where Charlie Thompson operated with great effect last week.
Todd Murray was caught at short cover by Bulls co-captain, Scott Dare.
The Bulls asked plenty of questions of their opponent; there were plenty of play-and-misses, and the odd very loud appeal, but the Tigers held their nerve, with the pressure intense.
Harry Forbes (13 not out) showed his intent early on, slogging Dunkley over cow corner on just the second ball he faced.
Gledhill’s positive contribution fell in the over after drinks, when he went leg before wicket to Dunkley, trying to hit a straight one through the leg side.
He had done the hard work and probably deserved to be there at the finish, but it wasn’t to be; that task fell to another veteran, Ben Saxon (10 not out from 12), who relished batting with his nephew, Forbes adding the required 19 in just 27 balls.
The clouds were looming but not even they could save the Bulls.
For the winners, it was the culmination of a conscious rebuild, which saw it go from the wooden spoon in 2023/24, to runners-up to the Bulls in 2024/25, to ultimate local cricket glory in 2025/26.
Some subtle tweaks to the ageing list that the knockers said was gone, and had some clubs calling for them to be relegated after winning the wooden spoon, is now seen as a cricketing masterstroke.
Ben Channing, Man of the Match, Thompson and McPhan came on board last season, with Forbes elevated this season and Guriqbal Singh joining the roster.
Singh made the decision to play at Tigerland, after testing the water at a couple of other clubs in the pre-season.
All five have had positive influences, and added match-winning qualities, rejuvenating the old fellows with their enthusiasm.
The spoils this year go to the Tigers, winning the battle of the leading two teams this campaign, on the last day of the season.
More on page 47.
