Liam Durkin
MEERLIEU qualified for Bairnsdale Cricket Association finals in extraordinary circumstances, following a pulsating last day in the last round of the regular season.
Heading into the Round 14 clash with a myriad of possibilities on the cards for fellow finals aspirants, the Tussocks ended up taking first innings points from their match against Wy Yung – but only just.
Day 2 action commended at the weekend, with Meerlieu having already won on first innings.
The home side was eventually bowled out for 169, making for a first innings lead of 58.
Needing to win outright themselves to be any chance of playing finals, Wy Yung threw caution to the wind, and whacked their way to 165 in just 29 overs before declaring.
The target for Meerlieu was set at 107, a relatively easy chase – or so it would seem.
What followed left the Tussocks hanging on for dear life, as Wy Yung captain Darcy Murray ran riot.
Murray tore through the Meerlieu order, taking away any such hopes they had of winning outright.
Murray started by dismissing Tussocks openers Reagan Kyle and Rohan Blandford to leave the scoreboard reading the Richie Benaud 2/22.
Meerlieu steadied through Frank Mostert and Matt Busch, before Mostert was bowled by Sean Phillipson for 20, leaving the Tussocks 3/53.
Busch continued on, and took the side to the cusp of victory, but Murray was again the man to provide the breakthrough.
He had Busch caught and bowled for 26, and from that point, he just kept taking wickets.
From 4/78 when Busch went out, Meerlieu sunk to 8/85, thanks entirely to Murray, who took the five wickets in the rut.
He was to finish with figures of 7/28 off 11 overs with five maidens, completely stopping Meerlieu taking outright points.
The Tussocks were forced to change their approach completely, needing to shut up shop to ensure they didn’t lose the six points they had gained from Day 1.
The home side was able to do so, with stumps called after 30 overs with the score 8/89.
Meerlieu succeeded in winning on first innings, and it was enough to see them finish the regular season third on the ladder after no other games were decided by more than an innings.
In the wash-up, West Bairnsdale finished on top with 50 points, with St Mary’s Nagle a further four points behind.
Meerlieu and Lindenow South/Glenaladale finished equal on 44 points, two clear of Lakes Entrance who missed finals.
Reigning premier Orbost failed to make finals (sixth on 36 points). Lucknow (32 points) and Wy Yung (28) completed what was a very tight BCA ladder.
Meerlieu will play St Mary’s Nagle for a spot in the Grand Final over the next two days.
The semi-final is at Nagle College, with play commencing at 1pm both days.
