West Bairnsdale has secured its first “A” grade one-day premiership, smashing Meerlieu by eight wickets at Bairnsdale City Oval yesterday.
West chased down the Tussocks’ 7/130 in the 34th over, Brodie Anderson leading the way with 41 at the top of the order and Liam Giove securing the premiership with a flick over mid wicket.
It was a much improved one-day effort for West having a day earlier been bowled out for just 47.
Anderson and Brad Daniel pushed their side past the 20-over mark without losing a wicket and frustration was starting to build in the Tussocks’ camp.
While boundaries were hard to come by on a slow outfield, West easily ticked the runs overs and upped the ante approaching the 30-over mark.
It was never in doubt.
Earlier, the Tussocks lost captain, Reagan Kyle, for a third ball duck in the second over, his opposite number, Halford, swinging through his defences.
Anthony Simpson and Frankie Mostert added 21 over the next eight overs before Simpson was trapped in front for 10 by Jack Lind.
Mostert (16) fell soon after, caught at mid on attempting to hit spinner, Chris Hammond, back over his head.
Dan Richardson was forced to anchor the innings and did so with aplomb. Despite his side sinking to 3/34 and then 4/51 with the departure of Matt Busch, Richardson worked the ones and twos before later opening up his shoulders.
He was the dominant scorer in all partnerships during his 63 not, which only featured one boundary, lifting the Tussocks to 7/130 after a slow start.
Lind (1/12) and Hammond (1/11) were the best of the West bowlers, limiting the runs in their eight-over spells, while Halford picked up three wickets.
Unscathed through 16 overs, West was 0/50 in its pursuit, Daniel and Anderson finding the gaps comfortably, however were at risk of getting behind the required run rate.
The pair managed to stay on track, despite a lack of boundaries being struck.
The Tussocks finally broke through when a Jamie Robinson short ball was slashed to cover by Daniel, caught for 24. However, West was in control at 1/68.
Anderson hit his side’s first boundary in the 24th over, however almost ran himself out an over later when hitting straight to Mostert at mid off. The South African missed the chance marginally.
West moved onto 1/89 at the second drinks break after 26 overs.
It took a diving Dan Richardson screamer at extra cover to dismiss the hard working Anderson for 41, Meerlieu remaining on the contest with West 2/99 in the 29th over.
Halford got off the mark with a leg glance to the square leg fence the second boundary of the innings and his side never looked back.
Giove got in on the boundary act, smashing Robinson over square leg before a cut shot added another three as West moved to 2/113 after 30 overs.
Halford and Giove added a further 10 in the next three overs, Giove then hooking Mostert to the fine leg boundary to edge his side within three of victory.
Giove finished the job an over later, hitting Simpson over mid wicket for the winning runs.
IMAGE: West Bairnsdale celebrates its Bairnsdale Cricket Association “A” grade one-day premiership. K171-165