GOL Gol has claimed the first piece of silverware on offer for the Sunraysia Cricket Association season after winning the First Division one-day final on Sunday.
A half-century by Jeremy Barnes, combined with some miserly middle-order bowling, helped the overall ladder leaders defeat a valiant Nichols Point by 15 runs at Alcheringa Oval.
Finalists were determined by results of all seven 40-over games, with those results still counting towards the overall season tallies.
After finding themselves in some strife at 5/72, Gol Gol had 88 on the board with 10 overs remaining, but they almost doubled that total in the run home to finish 6/166.
Barnes led the way from 53 from 50 deliveries, including six boundaries and one six, sharing a 76-run partnership with Jesse McGinty, who finished with 29 not out from 31 deliveries.
Sheldon Calarco scored an important 20 up the order.
Pointers wicket-keeper Zeeshan Butt had his hands in everything early, catching four of the six wickets to fall behind the stumps, while all-rounder Shannon Bowen (2/30) and captain Shaun Mathews (2/35) were the leading wicket-takers.
Gol Gol struck early with openers Nick Blacker and Mathews back in the sheds inside the first 10 deliveries, dismissed by brothers Luke and Cal Hickey respectively.
Riley Jobson and Bowen looked to be on track for a solid partnership but after the Gol Gol bowlers tightened the crews, Cal Hickey struck again to have Jobson caught for 21 by Wade Hancock to leave the Pointers 3/42.
The visitors fought back to be 4/93 at the 30-over mark, however they lost Bowen (39) and Archie Walker (14) in successive deliveries to be stuck at 6/98.
Despite some late resistance the Pointers fell short, making 151. Shacaya Thomas took 3/34.
Meanwhile, at Sarah Oval, Gol Gol also won the Second Division one-day title following an eight-wicket victory over Mildura East.
East were bundled out for 110, with Gol Gol vice-captain Scott Withers leading the way with 3/15, before 38 from Hayden Carroll and 36 not out from Mat Andrews saw them home with four overs to spare.
