Echuca and Kyabram will face off in the under-16 grand final after a thrilling weekend of semi-final cricket.
All roads lead to Moama Recreation Reserve this Sunday after captains from both clubs led the charge in their respective semi-finals.
Echuca, unbeaten all year, scraped into the grand final by the barest of margins as Rochester threatened to cause the upset of the season in the game at Victoria Park.
Batting first, Echuca captain Archer Carlile’s 29 runs off 122 deliveries cut a lone figure on the score-sheet as Nate Rasmussen ran amok through the Echuca top order.
Rasmussen (4-12) and Rochester captain Jude Ryan (3-22) were relentless with the ball, and Carlile would be the only batter to score in the double digits as Echuca slumped to 69 all-out in the 31st over.
In defence of the lowly total however, Echuca’s bowling brigade stepped up.
Carlile claimed the wickets of Matt Harrington and Jude Ryan in the first over, and Zac Hegarty extracted the wicket of Ethan Howard to leave Rochester reeling at 3-3.
Sam Fisher sent Rasmussen packing for 11 and Hegarty struck twice more alongside Liam Hearn, with Hegarty finishing on figures of 3-11.
Harrison Keating (25) helped Rochester inch ever closer to the required runs and at 9-68, the visitors needed just two runs for victory.
Fisher ensured the runs would never come, bowling Keating with the first ball of the 33rd over to book a spot in the grand final, winners by one run.
Echuca will face reigning premier Kyabram in the decider, and the Flames will come into the grand final in top touch with a strong semi-final win over Nondies Cohuna.
Batting first, Kyabram openers Bailey White and captain Cohan Hooper raised the bat for a pair of half-centuries.
Nicholas Jephson added 23 to the final total of 6-192, with Ryder van der Zande claiming figures of 2-3 for Nondies Cohuna. Coby Wright, Angus Donat, and Liam Edge were the other wicket-takers for Nondies.
Edge (41) led the Nondies run chase with the bat, but two wickets apiece to Danny Miller and Hooper ensured Nondies Cohuna finished 9-163.
The Flames will now look to secure back-to-back premierships, while Echuca will be hoping to complete a perfect season.
The Goulburn Murray Cricket under-16 grand final will be held at Moama Recreation Reserve on Sunday, February 27.
Semi-final best-on-grounds
Echuca vs Rochester
Archer Carlile (Echuca): 29 runs and 2-11
Kyabram vs Nondies Cohuna
Cohan Hooper (Kyabram): 50 runs (retired not out) and 2-29