Batemans Bay’s third grade side have been unable to get the result required in the third grade cricket grand final, a draw meaning they were confined to runner up, while Berry-Shoalhaven Heads took the title at Zealand Oval on the weekend.
The season finished in anticlimax, with the home side’s superior position on the ladder proving decisive.
At the end of Sunday’s play, Berry-Shoalhaven Heads had made it 6/125 off 106 overs, still 66 runs short of Batemans Bay’s total of 9/192 (dec).
Batemans Bay captain Pat Griffin said he didn’t expect the game to pan out the way it did.
“They (Berry-Shoalhaven Heads) played to the rules, which I think detracted from what could have been a great grand final,” he said.
“Obviously, that is part of the advantage of finishing first on the table, but I think we set them an achievable target, which I expected them to chase.”
Despite being first Batemans Bay team to make it into a Shoalhaven grand final, the visitors weren’t letting the occasion get the better of them on the Saturday, as they made a strong start with the bat.
Contributions of 49 from opener David West and number four Andrew Malcolm, along with 42 from Tom Purcell meant the Bay were able to post a score of nearly 200 from 90 overs.
The slowness of the outfield was more pronounced the following day, as the minor premiers stoically defended each wicket.
Griffin led the bowling attack for the Bay with 2/17 off 17 overs.
He conceded the Bay’s total would have “seemed like 250” the way the wicket was playing.
Sean Slatter
Journalist at Fairfax Media based at Launceston.
Journalist at Fairfax Media based at Launceston.
