Rand has continued its amazing run of premiership success by defeating Walbundrie at Walbundrie in the inaugural Cricket Albury Wodonga Hume season.
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Played in front of a large crowd at the Walbundrie Sportsground, the Pigeons made it seven straight premierships and 10 straight grand final appearances.
Five players Mark and Chris Kreutzberger, Clint and Brayden Ralston and Will Swift have played in all seven premierships.
Walbundrie after winning its first two finals fell short to win its first senior premiership since the 1952/53 season.
After winning the toss and batting, Rand found early trouble again, losing the key wickets of Mark Kreutzberger and Will Swift.
However, a stoic knock from underrated opener Clint Ralston of (88 no) and a superb (59) from veteran Chris Kreutzberger steadied the ship.
Bryce Swift pounded a hard-hitting (33) and with Brayden Lieschke making (17) the Pigeons posted a very respectable 5/205.
Ralston's innings was even more remarkable considering his previous highest score for the season was (28) against Henty in round 14.
The Walbundrie run chase was always going to revolve around last week's centurion Nick Morris and after a steady start he looked set to go large again.
After the early wicket of skipper Craig Mabon (8), Morris joined Scott Montgomery and the pair put on fifty seven before disaster struck the Tigers' middle order.
Rand's tall teenage quick Mitch Thomas turned the game when he clean bowled Morris for (30) and Alex McMaster (0). He followed up with the wicket of Montgomery (23) and when Nathan Morton was removed for (3), Walbundrie were staggering at 5/78, having lost 4/12.
Both Jarrod Miller (31) and namesake Jarrod Millar (14) regained some control to take the score to 5/110 before the final five wickets fell to see the Tigers out for 162.
Brayden Ralston confirmed his status as one of the competition's best bowlers taking 1/17 off eight tight overs. Thomas was the wrecker though with 3/31 and the consistent Brayden Lieschke snagged 3/32 and Will Swift 2/21.
B Grade
Holbrook has taken out the Cricket Albury Wodonga Hume B Grade premiership, with a comfortable 87 run win over Osborne at the Holbrook Sporting Complex.
The Brookers, after having lost the last three B Grade grand finals, in the Holbrook DCA broke the drought in fine style in front of a large crowd.
After being sent in to bat, Holbrook took advantage of a good batting deck to post 189 runs off its thirty-five overs.
The Brookers, after having lost the last three B Grade grand finals in the Holbrook DCA, broke the drought in fine style in front of a large crowd. After being sent into bat Holbrook took advantage of a good batting deck to post 189 off its 35 overs.
- Robbie Mackinlay
Dylan Fairall top-scored with a hard-hitting 65, while Charlie Harbison (37) and Lachie Trethowan (34) added great support.
Nick Gleeson took 3/35, while Nick Madden and Sam Rutland both took two wickets.
Opening bowlers Josh McDonnell and Hugh Nott both bowled economically.
Osborne made a great start in the run chase with openers Andrew O'Neill (20) and McDonnell (32) adding fifty-five for the opening stand.
However, a top order collapse had the visitors lose 3/1 of which they never recovered to be bowled out for 102 in the twenty-ninth over.
All of the Holbrook bowlers stood up, with Nick Locke conceding just twelve off his seven overs.
Ben Jones took 3/24 and Trethowan 2/19 off seven.
JUNIOR FINALS
UNDER 15
Culcairn has defeated Osborne in a thrilling Under 15 CAW Hume grand final, winning in the final over by four runs at Culcairn.
Led by Mitch Way (27) and Nathan Wardius (21), the Lions made 9/111 on Saturday morning after winning the toss and batting.
Charlie Douglas 4/15 and Nick Madden 3/15 bowled superbly for Osborne who fell just short on Sunday morning in reply.
Andrew Smith top scored with (27), with good support from John Ryan (17).
Nathan Wardius, with five wickets, was the star for Culcairn.
UNDER 12
Holbrook took out the Under 12 grand final in another thrilling finish, with just six runs separating the teams.
Osborne after batting first made 7/101 with Josh Hunt making an unbeaten (37). Holbrook in reply posted 7/109 with no details of the innings available.