Northerners had first crack at the weekend's festivities after claiming the D-grade premiership. Photo: Northerners Cricket Club
The Cricket Shepparton SJ Perry Shield served as the weekend’s curtain-raiser on a two-day stretch to crown the last of our district champions.
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Old Students had the fortune of competing for glory on home turf, welcoming Northerners to town in the D-grade decider — the weekend’s only one-day clash.
The hosts had first crack on their wicket after electing to bat, but a familiar name to D-grade observers was keen to make an early impact with ball in hand.
Old Students' Lewis Boswell plays one off the edge.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Old Students' Lewis Boswell chops fine.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Northerners' Leigh Miles maintained a great economy in his spell.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Old Students' Lewis Boswell watches a delivery whiz by.
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Liam Nash
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Northerners' Oscar Buckland takes over responsibilities.
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Liam Nash
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Old Students' David D'Elia tried to offer some late resistance.
Photo by
Liam Nash
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Northerners' Sam Dawes claimed a couple of late poles to snuff out the innings.
Photo by
Liam Nash
Jets powerhouse Tim Brett was able to single-handedly undo a lot of encouraging work done early by Dean Johnson and the ever-dangerous Ryan Boswell, removing both in short order.
He was far from done there as far as impacting proceedings.
As the Students’ innings threatened to sputter out, Northerners bowlers proved clutch with breakthroughs virtually whenever they were needed as Jason Wisely scorched the crease with game-best figures of 4-21.
The men in green successfully extinguished the flame, holding the final eight batters to single-figure tallies and giving themselves 97 to chase for a memorable win.
Brett donned the helmet and pads as if he wasn’t being paid by the hour, wanting to leave absolutely no doubt as he mashed eight fours and a six in a fiery display that rapidly made the game his.
Though Sam Dawes and Leigh Miles fell in quick succession early on, Brett was far too damaging with far too few runs to chase for the Kialla natives to have any realistic chance to hold on.
For his part, Preston Hall did the rest of the job in a confident showing, putting the perfect exclamation mark on the Tallygaroopna side’s breezy seven-wicket premiership win with a six to walk it off.
THE GAME
Northerners 3-101 (Tim Brett 47, Preston Hall 37*, Ross Hammer 2-26) d Old Students 96 (Ryan Boswell 17, Dean Johnson 16, Jason Wisely 4-21)
STAR PLAYER
Tim Brett (Northerners): Who else but the Jets’ man of the hour? Did a sumptuous job negating the Students’ main threat in the first innings, before producing brilliant value to take any air out of the contest during the chase.
Duly awarded man of the match recognition for his toils, Brett was more interested in the collective effort to reach the top of the mountain.
“You’re never 100 per cent confident in a grand final, but you’d like to be slightly confident bowling them out for 96,” Brett said.
“I’m proud of our guys and it was a good win.
“I said to the boys that it’s a tricky run chase with a low total in a grand final, so with the pressure and everything, getting there three down was a great effort by our team.
“Ryan (Boswell) has played a lot of cricket over the years, so to get someone like that early got us into the game.
“Every wicket is crucial in a grand final, but it matters more when it’s such an experienced player.”
As best afield, Brett did take at least some time to reflect on an individual campaign which bore monumental fruit — obviously capped on the biggest stage.
“Individually, it’s nice to get a few accolades,” Brett said.
“I had a good year personally, but the ultimate success is the team success we were chasing and that’s more enjoyable for myself.”
