GOULBURN Murray Cricket’s Melbourne Country Week adventure ended in heartbreak yesterday when the team lost a thrilling division two semi-final encounter to Ballarat.
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Defending 199, Goulburn Murray was well placed when Rochester’s Vib Yadov (4/43) struck early to have Ballarat in trouble at 5/72.
When that became 6/86 and then 7/106, Goulburn Murray appeared in the box seat to claim a berth in today’s division two grand final.
However, some late resistance saw Ballarat creep ever closer to the required target.
Mick Nolan (22) joined number three batsman Ryan Knowles (73no) at the crease and together the pair pushed the score to 141.
After Nolan’s dismissal, Jonah Healey came out and smashed a quick 35 off 24 balls which included three sixes and two fours.
Echuca’s Matt Hinks caught Healey off the bowling of Moama’s Alister McCann with the score on 185.
It meant Goulburn Murray only needed one more wicket to win the game while Ballarat required 15 runs.
Unfortunately for GMC, they couldn’t pick up that last wicket and Ballarat was able to get over the line at 9/201.
Earlier, the GMC had won the the toss and batted and compiled a respectable 9/199.
Echuca’s Matt Hinks top scored with 57no while Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Paul Newman made 50.
It ended an incredible week for the Goulburn Murray side, which had been elevated out of division two three at the start of the tournament due to team withdrawals.
The GMC looked well and truly out of their depth in the Melbourne Country Week opener against Bendigo.
It wouldn’t stay like that for the remainder of the group stage.
The GMC, guided by Marx De Villiers, bounced back with a hard fought victory against Murray Valley Cricket Association in game two.
And in game three, Goulburn Murray produced a stunning bowling effort, only to just scrape across the line in their clash with the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association — two results that would see the GMC finish second in their group.
Even after the ploy failed on day one, the GMC won the toss against Murray Valley and again sent their opposition in on Tuesday.
The GMC bowlers did enough to get the job done, with the Murray Valley innings closing at 8/226.
Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Marx De Villiers took two wickets, while five other bowlers all took a wicket.
In reply, De Villiers took the willow and made a strong 56 at the top of the order.
BLU’s Joshua Wood made 40 as the other opener, while Yadav made 49.
It took 43.2 overs for the GMC to get the required runs, finishing at 6/230 and winning by four wickets.
The inclusion of Tongala’s Darin Ohlsen for the third game of the week against Wangaratta and District Cricket Association paid off immediately.
Again sending their opposition, and Yadav once more claiming the first wicket, Ohlsen tore through the opposition, claiming 4/18 from his 10 overs.
Wangaratta’s best batsman could only manage 25, as the side crumbled to finish all out for 130.
The GMC had the upper hand, and looked likely to romp to victory.
They proceeded to make an easy win seem incredibly difficult.
De Villiers was the top scorer with a run a ball 28, while his teammates barely scored.
Four players made it into double figures, but no one was able to put a clear match winning score down.
Fortunately, no one needed to.
In the end the GMC scraped through to get the win, making 9/133 in the 39th over.
The two wins saw a huge turnaround of fortunes, with GMC finishing second in their pool for the tournament.