By Tyler Lewis
Good teams win ugly.
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but after defeating Devon Meadows by the skin of its teeth, Officer has reached its second grand final in three seasons.
It was chaotic from the moment the first ball was bowled, as the Bullants started the landslide of wickets at the Officer Rec Reserve.
Cooper Pursell (2/15 off eight), Jonty Bennie (3/10 off eight) and Leigh Boyle (2/18 off eight) all contributed to having the Panthers on the canvas, as the scoreboard read 8/35.
Coby Podd threatened to be a finals story told for centuries after he noodled 29 not out and then flipped the trajectory of the game.
With just 87 to get, the Bullants would usually be expected to reel it in before drinks only one or two down, but Podd popped up again to take the first pole of the second innings and start a mini collapse of its own for the Officer side.
The home side’s wickets didn’t tumble as quickly, but most certainly kept tumbling, as the Bullants were forced to pass the modest total with just one wicket in the shed when Aidan Pipicelli fell with the scores tied.
Bullants skipper Brett Monagle said it wasn’t his favourite batting performance for the year, and leaves his side with plenty to work on ahead of next week’s grand final.
“It definitely wasn’t the easiest chase we have had all year, I guess that is finals cricket after all,” he said.
“At the end of the day we were pretty happy to get the job done, but plenty to work on with the bat.
“Shot selection for a few of the boys definitely needs to improve… chasing I think it was 87, we probably could’ve been a bit more reserved and didn’t need to try anything too flamboyant.
“A bit of finals pressure might have got to a few of the boys, but fingers crossed that is all gone in two weeks.”
The bowlers had the ball on a string and it didn’t escape the eyes of the skipper.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the bowling performance,” he said.
“I think since definitely since Christmas our bowling has definitely been our strength, we have been able to restrict a few teams.
“In the past three or four weeks our fielding is starting to click, now we are able to back the bowlers up in the field, I couldn’t be prouder of that effort.”
The win leaves the Officer group with a plethora of confidence in its ability, and while the eyes are fixated on the big dance, the Ants are daring to dream about returning to the top flight.
“We are pretty confident if we do have to play Devon again, regardless if we have to bat or bowl first, that we can come away with the win,” Monagle said.
“But both them and Upper Beacy are quality sides so it will be interesting to see who gets the win on Saturday.
“The group has been pretty consistent for three years so we are all pretty hungry to go that one step further and get back up into the top div and then fingers crossed next year be able to cause a bit of a shake up.”
In the elimination final, Upper Beaconsfield shook off its early mishap to charge down a solid total set by Pakenham Upper Toomuc.
The Yabbies set 8/188 from its 40, with Nick Kyval leading the way with 45.
In pursuit it was Taylor Joyce who crunched 52 from 47 rocks to steer the Maroons into a preliminary final.
FINALS BRACKET:
SEMI FINAL: Officer def Devon Meadows
ELIMINATION FINAL: Pakenham Upper Toomuc def by Upper Beaconsfield
PRELIMINARY FINAL: Devon Meadows v Upper Beaconsfield
GRAND FINAL: Officer v winner of PF
