B Grade, Division 2
Grand Final, 29-30 March
Foster vs Leongatha Town at Foster Cricket Ground, Foster
Day One: Leongatha Town - 10/217
Day Two: Foster - 10/125
Town have turned the tables on Foster to claim the B Grade Division 2 Premiership after downing their hosts by 82 runs in the Grand Final. After being pipped for top spot in the final round of season by the Tigers, Leongatha Town would have wanted to make a statement after winning the toss and electing to bat. It was Foster though, who grabbed the early initiative and a double strike from Jack Gay had the visitors on the ropes at 3/37, including the key wicket of one of the semi-final centurions Pandu Jayasinghe for just 17. A repeat of the final round capitulation was on the cards before Trent McCrae (65 from 136) put his head down and with Max Carter (6 from 36) combined to soak up some balls and wrench back some of momentum from their opponents. Foster tweaker Jack Gay (8/64 from 29.2) kept challenging the Scorpion batsmen but his fellow bowlers struggled at the other end and the Scorps kept finding little partnerships to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Davern Goss (32 from 48) and Frazer Livingstone (13 from 51) provided a sting in the tail to combine for an invaluable 47 10th wicket stand to thwart Foster and help their side to a very competitive total by day's end.
In their late season run Foster had overcome all before them and as Jack Gay (35 from 77) and Jake Pilkington (31 form 71) put on 68 for the opening stand, the Tigers were purring. First Jayasinghe (5/23 from 12) had Gay caught by McCrae, then Neil Henry (1) was unable to repeat any of his semi-final heroics and fell after just four balls. When fellow opener Pilkington was caught and bowled by Levi Hickey (2/26 from 11) Foster were suddenly shaky at 3/74. Caldwell (7) and Davy (17) provided some resistance and worked hard to resurrect the innings, but when they departed to Lachlan Gill (3/21 from 16) the end was swift. Leongatha Town’s attack had performed throughout the season and on the second day was in fine form giving nothing away. Jayasinghe’s 5-fer was the headline in a bowling unit that kept taking wickets with excellent economy, as the Tigers lost their final 7 wickets for just 25 runs, and their permiership dream fell just short. Foster took some consolation from Jack Gay’s magnificent performance, and the umpire’s agreed - he was named Man of The Match.
