THRILLING FINISH
Casterton wins junior final in extra time

3 March 2010

JOHN DONEGAN

CASTERTON had to fight hard to win the 2009-10 premiership after some anxious moments during extra time last Sunday

Chasing Casterton's 176, Edenhope was 7-105 at the scheduled close of play but both coaches and the umpires agreed to play for an extra 30 minutes rather than return to Island Park next weekend to finish the game.

Edenhope added a further 31 runs as it lost its final three wickets to fall 40 runs short of the victory target.

Casterton’s Liam Gill won the toss on Saturday and decided to bat first on a plush Island Park (1) oval at Island Park that had been cut short and gave encouragement to the batsmen to go for their shots.

On a morning of fluctuating fortunes, Casterton was 4-108 when stumps were drawn after 45 overs. Daniel Wombwell made 25, while Brandon Currie (26 not out) and Isaac Forbes (7 not out) were the overnight not out batsmen. The highlights of the morning were the two wonderful catches from Edenhope’s Jackson Finnigan.

With 25 overs still to be bowled on Sunday afternoon to complete the Casterton innings, Currie and

Forbes continued to build the team total until Clint Rokebrand bowled Currie for 45 and Forbes (24) fell to Utsa some eight runs later.

Damian Wombwell (11) added further valuable runs before Casterton was all out for 176 in the 69th over. Wicket takers for Edenhope were Utsa (4-39), Rokebrand (3-30) and Hugh Caldow (2-35).

Kaylem Walkowsky and Caldow got Edenhope got their team away to a good start before both batsmen were dismissed with the score on 30. Matt Storey (28), Utsa (22), Ben Jude (14) and Jackson Finnigan (10 not out) all contributed well for Edenhope but the Casterton first innings target was beyond their reach.

Edenhope was dismissed for 136 in 64 overs. Best with the ball for Casterton were Daniel Wombwell (5-30, Currie (1-18), Hayden Smith (1-11), Justin Carlin 1-27, Damian Wombwell (1-5) and Jacob Forbes (1-6).

Association trophies were then presented to a number of high achievers throughout the season. The batting average went to Casterton's Liam Gill (50.7); bowling average Casterton's Jacob Forbes (5.07); most catches Wando Vale's Jacob Shannon (7); player of the final series Edenhope's Matt Storey.



Senior finals sorted

THE final day of the senior home and away series lived up to expectations as Wando Vale and Edenhope fought hard to grab big bonus points and the coveted home semi-finals venues for next weekend.

Despite an impressive effort with the bat against Dergholm, Pigeon Ponds had to be content with third place on the points table. After staring defeat in the face on the previous Saturday, the Wando Vale bowlers were on fire as they captured the last eight Merino wickets for 39 runs.

Merino was all out for 14, just two runs shy of the Vale’s first innings total of 143. The Wando Vale batsmen then took the long handle to the Wombats’ bowlers, with a punishing second innings of 8-212 in 37 overs.

Casterton’s batsmen were never in the hunt as the Edenhope bowlers blasted out the home team for a moderate 128. With a first innings lead of 87, the Edenhope batsmen picked up five more bonus points with a rapid-fire second innings of 6-171.