Trevor Jackson
GRAND final berths in the Dycer Constructions Big Bash Twenty20 season were finalised this week after the final three games were completed.
East Gambier went straight through to the season decider after comfortably defeating North Sportsman’s on Sunday.
North won the toss and elected to bowl, with East not making a huge impact with the bat.
They reached a total of 101 in the 20th over, with the Tigers then set to chase the total down.
However, as has been the case for North this season, they simply could not reach the target.
The result left an interesting scenario, with run rate set to make the final decision from the two games played on Tuesday evening.
If Mil Lel defeated South they would go straight into the grand final, while if the Demons won it would be decided on run rate.
If Mil Lel was to lose and Penola win, it would then be a three-way tie with run rate utilised.
As it panned out, South defeated Mil Lel and with the better run rate was poised to claim the final spot.
West Gambier then upset the apple cart and defeated Penola in the final over to take the Eagles out of the equation and push South into the season decider against East.
Throughout the five-round season East was the in-form side, with four wins and just one loss – against Penola – to sit clear at the top of the table.
South claimed three wins and suffered two losses to eventually sit second above Mil Lel.
The two sides faced off in the opening round back in November last year.
South sent the Bulldogs into bat and East made the most of it, posting a defendable 125 runs.
South set about its run chase but suffered its first loss with just 10 runs on the board as Robert Drenthen was out for six.
Adam Kuhl came and went for just four runs, before opener Daniel Loupos and Elwood Geary paired up for a solid 42-run stand.
Geary departed and Stephen Easterbrook stepped up to the crease, but was out for 22 with the total at 94.
unfortunately for South, Loupos gave up his wicket with the total at 108.
Dylan Clough almost saw the job done but fell with the victory in sight, with just three runs required for the win.
However, with balls running out, David Vine and Jakob Opie could not find the winning runs, falling two short of a victory at 6/124.
With luck, today’s grand final will play out in a similar fashion, with Bulldogs’ strike bowler Alex Hentschke in scintillating form in the Barber Shield competition.
Emerson Marks is another who has performed well, with plenty of options the Bulldogs with the ball in hand.
South is in a similar situation, with the likes of Drenthen and Geary both dangerous, along with Jakob Opie, who is regularly among the wickets.
Both sides can clear the fence with the bat in hand and with the game set down for Frew Park, chances are a few balls could end up on the Jubilee Highway tarmac.
The likes of Dion Stratford and Hentschke are dangerous for the Bulldogs if they get a start.
Likewise, Drenthen is a big hitter for the Demons and if he can stick around with the likes of Loupos or Dave Somerfield at the top of the order, South could certainly post a big target or chase one down.
Either way it is sure to be an entertaining clash, with the season honours on the line.
The game will begin at 5.20pm.
