Rising to the occasion twice already this finals series, the fourth-placed Lodgers bowled out minor premier Tatura for 119, putting the green and gold in a prime position to snare an upset on the final day of its Cricket Shepparton D-grade season.
A burly Beauden Webber hit the pitch with bounce that could cramp the batsman, but it came from his deceptive spin bowling, and Tatura struggled to put runs on the board as Webber and co. dealt damage.
Webber was the key to ending a middle-order partnership of resistance, as Jack Scholes and Louis Worm put 38 runs on the board.
However, a full ball with extra pace went by Worm’s willow before a defensive stroke could be played, landing Webber his second of four for the afternoon and putting the Lodgers back on top in the contest.
As Tatura’s final batters trudged off of Mooroopna’s deck after a touch over 34 overs of play, Webber’s 4-26 felt sure to be the key to a Pine Lodge premiership.
However, he had yet to play his most crucial role.
While an early 21-run opening partnership set Pine Lodge on a steady path, Tatura would find some fire with the Kookaburra as the innings progressed.
0-21 turned to 3-29, and the pressure was back on the Lodgers’ shoulders, before Andrew Bock and Ryan Sutherland would withstand some heat.
On the tricky wicket, Bock and Sutherland’s game-high partnership of 42 placed Pine Lodge back on track, but once again, Tatura brought on a mini collapse.
This time it was James Collett that struck, as Pine Lodge lost 3-7 to be placed at 6-78.
A small stint between Dayne Webber and Seamus Kearney formed, but the latter would depart with the score on 94 - putting Big Bad Beauden to the crease.
The Webbers had plenty of overs to spare, but wasted no time in the chase, collecting runs off wides and smoking fours.
After Dayne Webber’s drive in the 27th over, the Lodgers were just one more identical stroke away from premiership glory, but Tatura’s Heath Fidock had other ideas.
Moments after being taken for four, Fidock bowled Dayne Webber as he attempted to pull the ball through the leg side.
Cobey Aynsley then faced an identical result, and was sent to the sheds for a golden duck.
Suddenly, Pine Lodge just a shot away from victory now had to defend a hat-trick ball with its last wicket.
Another three-wicket collapse looked startlingly certain to happen again.
As Keith Marr took to the crease, Fidock steamed in, the Pine Lodge batter going on the back foot while flailing out his bat to the ball.
It was less than convincing, but it was a dot.
The next ball would have done Pine Lodge no favours in settling the nerves, another unstable shot, but again, Marr survived.
Over complete, Webber on strike – it was time to win the match.
Webber took three dots and a wide in Xavier Dowell’s over, before he saw one in the slot.
Slogged over the bowler’s head, Webber immediately knew it was safe and to the rope, rejoicing with arms out wide.
The match-winner with bat and ball strutted towards Pine Lodge players streaming onto the field, before ridding his bat to the ground in celebration and pumping his chest as stunned Tatura fielders stood with hands on hips.
For a moment, Tatura looked to have salvaged victory, but no-one was stopping Webber on Saturday, Pine Lodge claiming an enthralling grand final victory, and the S J Perry Shield, by one wicket.
THE GAME
Tatura 119 (Jack Scholes 22, Louis Worm 21, Beauden Webber 4-26) lt Pine Lodge 9-121 (Andrew Bock 23, Dayne Webber 20, Heath Fidock 4-34)
STAR PLAYER:
Beauden Webber (Pine Lodge): After a four-wicket haul that limited Tatura’s total, Webber clutched up with the bat to score the winning runs when Pine Lodge was on the verge of collapsing at the edge of victory.
