Liam Durkin
MEERLIEU lost the Bairnsdale Cricket Association first grade Grand Final.
The Tussocks went down by four wickets on first innings to West Bairnsdale across the weekend March 23-24.
Taking to Orbost Recreation Reserve for the decider, Meerlieu remained in the hunt for a premiership, but ultimately, a poor first innings batting display was to blame for their defeat.
The Tussocks only compiled 113 after electing to bat first – 60 of which was made by Frank Mostert.
Mostert, who was crowned BCA Player of the Year for 2023/24, single-handedly got Meerlieu into triple figures. While most others struggled to hit off the square, Mostert smashed eight fours and one six during his 63-ball stay.
He eventually fell to Chris Hammond, who ended with figures of 4/25, backing up the work of skipper Ryan Halford, who nabbed 3/36. West Bairnsdale bowled well as a unit, with all five bowlers taking wickets.
Meerlieu was bowled out in 58 overs, meaning West Bairnsdale had to bat for a tricky 20-over period before stumps on Day 1.
The minor premier started promisingly, getting to 28 before Mostert changed momentum – this time with the ball.
The quick extracted the first two wickets within two runs of each other, before his fellow opening partner Nick Adendorff followed by taking three of the next four.
In among this was a run out, which left West Bairnsdale precariously placed at 4/50.
Halford took the score to 81, before he became Adendorff’s second scalp. There was a shudder in the West Bairnsdale camp as the scoreboard read 6/90.
Needing to go in for the kill, Meerlieu tried in vain to expose the tail, however, they were denied by a defiant Jake Anderson.
Anderson batted for a time with Atley Williams, who ensured West Bairnsdale established a first innings lead.
They achieved this, but when Williams was dismissed for 36, West Bairnsdale only had a lead of 24, meaning the game was far from over.
Anderson however could not be removed, and he saw out critical time to deliver the premiership for West Bairnsdale.
Anderson ended on 27 not out from 75 balls, getting West Bairnsdale to 7/163, and more importantly, the 49 over mark.
At that time, Meerlieu was forced to concede defeat, as there was no plausible way they could run down a 50-run deficit and set a total of their own to try and win reverse-outright.
Adendorff finished with figures of 3/46 and Mostert 2/37.
The win completed the double for West Bairnsdale, who also took out the one day flag in February.
West Bairnsdale was the standout team in what was one of the most evenly-contested BCA seasons in living memory.
West Bairnsdale finished the regular season clear on top of the ladder by one game, however, places afterwards had mathematicians spinning.
Meerlieu finished third, but won more games than St Mary’s Nagle who finished second.
Wy Yung claimed the wooden spoon, but were only two wins off fifth-placed Lakes Entrance, who missed finals by two points.
Elsewhere, cricket premiers across Gippsland were also crowned in the last fortnight.
Ex Students won the inaugural Cricket Latrobe Valley flag. The win made it seven flags from 12 consecutive Grand Finals for the Sharks, following on from their domination of the Traralgon District Cricket Association, which merged with Latrobe Valley District to form Cricket Latrobe Valley this season.
Just getting to the Grand Final was a story in itself, as Ex Students blocked out for a draw in the semi-final against Moe.
Chasing 173, the Sharks quickly realised their chances of winning were slim when they slumped to 8/64.
Under league rules however, the highest ranked team progressed to the Grand Final in the event of a draw, so the Sharks shut up shop for 40 overs and ended on 8/89.
While the rule is used in Victorian Premier Cricket, and is designed to stop the side bowling second just spreading the field, it is understood a number of questions have been raised surrounding its practicality at local level.
In other leagues, premiers for season 2023/24 were Western Park (Warragul District) and Phillip Island (Leongatha District).
