As many figured, Eastern Hill and Tallarook will duke it out for the SDCA’s A-grade title after each posted commanding victories in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Eastern Hill posted a perfect 14-0 regular season with a net run rate above 3.0 and never looked like slowing down in setting about the destruction of fourth-placed Yea.
Defining the game at Kings Park most prominently was a 116-run stand for the third wicket between Brayden Speechley (64, six fours) and the eventually unbeaten Ollie Bryant (26 not out, one six).
Matthew Collard put in an enormous shift with a game-high 65 (four fours, one six) before Eastern Hill’s bowlers earned their share of the plaudits in defending 203.
Benjamin Bryant decimated Yea’s chase with a sterling nine overs worth 4-13 featuring five maidens, while Fraser Lewis picked up four poles of his own in a 150-run mauling.
Meanwhile, Tallarook skipper Lachlan Watts did most of the heavy lifting with a powerful 86 (13 fours), supplemented by Leigh Irving (43, five fours, one six) as his side set Seymour 172 to win.
Watts went on from there, notching two wickets to accompany Xavier Arandt’s handy 3-17 in a simple 61-run victory.
Watts was pleased to do it in comfort after an early scare.
“Seymour has been a bit of a surprise packet this season and we certainly didn’t take this match lightly,” Watts said.
"They had us two down early before Leigh and I were able to put on a solid partnership.
"I think we put on our best fielding display for the season. Xav Arandt picked up three crucial wickets and took a couple of great catches.
“We’re looking forward to another grand final. We know our best cricket is good enough, it's just a matter of putting it all together on the day.”
Eastern Hill and Tallarook will meet at Seymour’s Kings Park for the grand final on Saturday afternoon.
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