Bailey and Brett BLU’s dynamic duo

When the dust settled, both teams walked away with premierships and a slice of local cricketing history.

BLU’s Raglus Shield side became the Lions’ first premiers in the grade in the GMC era, overcoming Tongala by 51 runs.

Batting first, Bailey Wilson led the charge for BLU with a grand final half-century, retiring on 53 runs with nine boundaries.

Skipper Justin Guppy was next best with 20 not-out, but the Lions batters were held to 141 thanks to Tongala bowlers Zac McKenzie and Ben Smith, who both picked up identical figures of 2-21 off six overs.

With the ball in hand, BLU struck early with the wicket of Stephen Townsend courtesy of Josh Felmingham, but Peter Bird and Scott McKenzie rallied to post a second-wicket partnership of 34 runs.

That partnership came to an end at the hands of Brett Munro, the first of his game-changing three wickets.

Alistar Smith was next to go to Munro’s bowling, and the departure of Bird for 20 thanks to Nicholas Verhey swung the game right back into BLU’s favour with Tongala faltering at 4-59.

A middle-order stand between Brad Caldwell and Ben Smith was disrupted by Munro and Wilson, who added to his half-century with two wickets.

The dismissal of Glenn Chantler effectively brought an end to the Tonny resistance at 8-82.

Fittingly, it was Eric Bish who claimed the premiership-winning wicket, dismissing Tonny for 90 runs in the 28th over.