IT may be a different format this season, but Mildura Settlers are one win away from etching a very familiar name onto the Sunraysia Cricket Association premiership cup.
The league powerhouse took a stranglehold of the league’s first ever best-of-three grand final series against Coomealla-Wentworth yesterday with a dominant performance at Alcheringa Oval.
After the two teams won through with wins in the semi-final on Saturday, Settlers smashed up a score of 177 off their 40 overs and rolled the Blues for 121, to take a 1-0 lead in the grand final series.
Game two will be held next Saturday, with game three on Sunday if required.
After Coomealla-Wentworth produced a stunning upset in the semi-final against Irymple, they entered Sunday’s grand final as underdogs and the sentimental favourites.
But Settlers were in no mood for fairytales, with opener Jason Morrison intimidating the Blues’ attack from the outset. The hard-hitting right-hander pounded a couple over the ropes and flew to 29 off 19 balls before he was dismissed.
It gave Settlers exactly the momentum they were after, as youngster Cameron Kiel cruised to a stylish 17 off 24 balls, before Luke Stanbrook backed up his excellent knock on Saturday with another crucial innings.
Stanbrook batted with control to make 48 off 67 balls, and teamed up in the later overs with veteran Richie Wyld (36 off 42) to lift the run rate towards five-an-over.
Bevan Wade backed up his three wicket haul on Saturday with 3/30 off eight overs yesterday, while Liam Freeman also claimed three wickets.
The total was a bridge too far for the tight-knit Coomealla-Wentworth team, who slumped to 5/16 in reply, succumbing to the accuracy and experience of Morrison and Mark Kerr.
Morrison finished with 3/27, while Kerr finished with the incredible one-day figures of eight overs, 2/7, in a masterful display of left-arm swing bowling.
Cal Hickey then continued Settlers’ dominance with the ball, reducing Coomealla Wentworth to 8/59 as he snared four wickets, to end the contest.
Matt Job put some respectability into the scoreboard, batting with the tail to make a tidy 59, but the horse had well and truly bolted by then.
