Decade of dominance

By MICHAEL ROSE

KINGOWER has become the first team to win multiple one day Upper Loddon Cricket Association grand finals after defeating a gallant Wedderburn at Arnold on Saturday.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes, both teams at various stages looked likely winners with Kingower finally prevailing by 16 runs in a good game, fitting of a season decider.

Andrew Nevins and Sam Harrison were in charge of the game as Wedderburn won the toss and sent Kingower into bat in what were hot conditions.

After losing Will Deason early, bowled by Will Holt, Matt Rowe and Braydon Welsh set about their task cautiously and at the first drinks break had just 34 runs on the board.

The Wedderburn bowling was very good, giving very little away and this trend continued with the partnership finally being broken when Rowe was adjudged lbw for a patient 34 runs.

Captain Luke Holt then swung a bit of a surprise by introducing Finn Turnbull into the attack.

The move paid dividends with Turnbull taking the wickets of Welsh, Jayden Leach and Blake Pickles all with the score on 77

Adam Postle’s catch to dismiss Welsh for 38 was a beauty with the big man running around the boundary, judging the catch to perfection before tumbling to the ground. Wedderburn was right on top at this stage, however Kyle Simpson and Lachlan DeJong did well to round out the innings with a 53-run partnership off the last nine overs to help Kingower to a final total of seven for 137.

Simpson top scored for Kingower with 41 off only 44 balls while DeJong who was run out by an accurate outfield throw from Tom Kirk made 16.

Kirk, Lachie Shelton and Isaac Holt all bowled economical spells with Turnbull being the only multiple wicket taker.

Looking like their total was a little on the skinny side, King- ower could not have asked for a better start, knocking over Shelton, Brad and Luke Holt with just four runs on the board.

With Kingower up and about, Isaac Holt didn’t let the situation deter him and proceeded to take to the bowling hitting seven boundaries and with Kirk providing good support, the pair added 54 runs in just over seven overs.

Wedderburn had regained the momentum.

Holt’s innings ended for an inning’s high off 34 off only 30 balls when he skied a ball to Tom Nunn and when Kirk (23) followed the very next ball dis- missed in identical fashion, Wedderburn had slumped to 6-65 and again Kingower had gained the ascendency.

Wedderburn, however, weren’t finished and the veteran Steve Giorlando led from the front and together with the last four batsmen edged their way to within 16 runs of victory.

Giorlando was last man out when Jayden Leach was brought back to the bowling crease to bowl his last over.

Leach cleaned bowled Giorlando for a well made 31 runs and end Wedderburn’s charge, much to the jubilation of his Kingower team mates.

Leach finished with three wickets, however DeJong was the pick of the Kingower bowlers claiming four victims. Kyle Simpson chipped in with two.

Immediately following the game Kingower’s captain Braydon Welsh was presented with the F.P Nevins & Co. Premiership Shield.

Kingower has now played in seven of the 10 ten grand finals winning four.

The umpires judged Simpson the player of the match and he received The Peter Rotherham Medallion.

Skipper Welsh led celebrations after the presentations, saying Kingower’s season had its up and downs but praising players for stepping up to take the flag against minor premiers Wedderburn.