OUYEN Rams’ quest for a third successive Red Cliffs Cricket Association premiership hits the business end of the season as finals begin on Saturday.
The Rams, who have lost a solitary game for the campaign, are the hot favourites for the flag and can qualify for the grand final with victory over second-placed Nursery Ridge at Blackburn Park.
While the winner moves through to the decider, the loser will back up again on Sunday to face the winner of the elimination final between Tempy and Robinvale Euston to earn the remaining spot.
The Rams have lost just four matches since the start of the 2021/22 season and have a 3-0 record against Ridge this campaign.
Ouyen have contributors across the board, Daniel Kay arguably being the most impressive with a competition-high 25 wickets.
Skipper Alex Morrish has also been solid with 17 scalps, while Daniel Pryse (244 runs), Conor Schultz (230) and Brad Parsons (221) all feature in the top 10 for runs.
Parsons has been especially dangerous of late with his last three innings compiling 129 runs from just 89 deliveries.
Nursery Ridge won the two previous titles before Ouyen and have been a powerhouse of the competition.
The boys from the Onion Patch have been solid, rather then spectacular, for the season, but a top-two result can’t be argued with.
Bowling has certainly been the main weapon in their arsenal with Jason Finch (22 wickets), Brad Purdue (18) and Allan Brown (15) all inside the top 10.
Surprisingly, only one of their batsmen features in that top 10 list with Dan Nulty’s 187 runs.
Tempy have been in three successive losing grand finals, the last two coming in tight contests against neighbourly rivals Ouyen.
The Tigers will need to win on their home deck against Robinvale Euston for a chance to turn that result around, but they have the form, with a 2-1 record over the Rangers.
Ryan McKay has again been a standout with the bat, scoring 271 runs, while the powerful Nic Monghan has put together a strong all-round season with 197 runs and 24 wickets.
Daniel Strauss has also been impressive when called up to A Grade, taking 15 scalps.
This year marks Robinvale Euston’s third season back in the competition following a 16-year hiatus, however the Rangers have lost all three finals they’ve played in the past two years.
To turn that around, much will depend on the form of Jacob and Tom Lister. Jacob is a red-hot Les Thurlow Medal contender with 306 runs and 21 wickets and Tom has scored 293 runs.
The Rangers have also benefited from the absence of Cardross this campaign with Noah Lanigan taking 19 wickets in his first season at Len Arnott Oval.
Both games begin at 1pm on Saturday.
