Seniors Semi Finals Reports
First XI into the Grand Final
Finals started on Saturday with Aura Vale coming to Windermere for the start of the 2014/15 Finals series. The toss sort of went our way with Aura Vale choosing to bat on an overcast Saturday. They started very well getting to 35 without loss before their opener swung hard, one to many times and was well caught on the boundary. We were able to get on top after that thanks largely to Steve Deller (3/32) who took 3 wickets before tea to have them at 5/80, however they put on a further 35 runs to get to tea at 5/115 and the game being well and truly on.
After Tea Josh Lindner bowled a long spell and took a valuable (2/23) and with myself taking a couple also, we restricted them to 190. Dropping 4 catches and missing a few run outs really hurt however 190 was still a target we were confident in chasing.
On Sunday we got off to a rough start with Clint Buckland getting out early for 8. Mitch Goddard (29) and Cameron Wheeler (63) combined for a great partnership of 61. At 2/74 the game was fairly evenly poised and whilst we lost Johnny Rozakis (16) just before tea. We walked in at 3/115 and on top. Myself and Cam got on top after tea and when Cam fell with the score on 146. We were well on the way to passing the total. Dewayne Bowden (8no) and I finished the game off with the loss of only 4 wickets and still some 20 plus overs remaining.
Next week we face Ferntree Gully Footballers at Windermere in the Grand Final, this will be a big test but all will be looking forward to the weekend ahead.
Season over for gutsy Twos
The Seconds finished their impressive season with a disappointing loss to Lysterfield at Dobson Park. Unfortunately we didn’t give the bowlers enough to bowl at, being dismissed for 153. Kallum Croxford stood out on the batting front with a typical blistering innings of 61, while further down the order Rusty Wilson 14, Josh Burridge 18, Paul Wiles 19 and Eraj Wimalaratna 14 all made handy starts.
Despite the average total, the bowlers made the Beavers work for every run. Lysterfield were 3/29 at one point before steadying. Skipper Eraj bowled a sublime spell, taking 3/31 off a marathon 23 overs. Brad Croxford 1/32 (off 15 overs) and Russell Wilson 1/45 (off 11) were the other wicket takers, while Kev Atacador bowled tightly for 0/17 off 11, as the Beavers ran out fairly comfortable winners at 6/159.
The Ones have not tasted defeat so far this season and now play close local rivals Ferntree Gully Footballers in the final at Windermere on Saturday 14th. It would be great for all Gators players, past players and supporters to try to get down to Windermere over the weekend and cheer loudly for the brown and gold as we try to add some silverware to the cabinet!
