A man of the match innings by Bowling Club batsman Nick Berry and a complete performance by its bowlers has guided Bowling Club to Lachlan Premier Cricket glory.
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Bowling Club posted 7-198, with Berry top scoring on 75, before dismissing Cambridge Cats for 135 to secure the inaugural premiership.
Bowlers Tim Berry, Nathan Thorn, Aaron Thorn and Al Lovett all picked up multiple wickets.
Captain Matt Crawley said it was a great way to cap off the season.
“Our last month, we knew we were in the finals and with a few weeks left we knew we’d be in the final so it was good to get the job done on Saturday,” Crawley said.
“We executed our batting and bowling plans really well.”
After winning the toss and batting, opener Mick Curtale blasted 31 before departing off the bowling of Stephen Jones in the eighth over with the score on 48.
Ross Graham went first ball and Cats had the momentum at 48 after nine overs.
Change bowlers Jones and Billy Porter applied pressure but Berry and his brother Tim managed to see it through till drinks at 20 overs with the score 2-74.
Tim Berry (13) was caught behind off the experience bowling of Clinton Hawke, which brought captain Crawley to the crease.
Crawley (43) and Berry got the runs ticking over putting together a valuable 60-run partnership in a short amount of time to take Bowling Club to 4-150.
Berry (75) departed soon after but some late hitting from the lower order got Bowling Club to 7-198.
“I thought we laid the foundations in the first eight overs. In a grand final when you get to 50 quickly it eases the pressure,” Crawley said.
“We kept wickets in hand and we were able to accelerate at the end. It was well set up for the middle and lower order.”
Opening bowlers Tim Berry and Nathan Thorn cashed in with the new ball removing Cambridge top order bats Zac Bayliss (1) and Anthony Riach (1) in the opening two overs.
Wickets continued to tumble in the opening 20 overs as Cats limped to 6-60 at the break, with key batman Anthony Heraghty (22) and Jacob Harvey (15) in the sheds.
Not much resistance was shown in the middle order.
Cats opening bowler Jonah Ruzgas showed his ability with the willow hitting 46 at number nine.
Harry Bayliss was not out 13 when Ruzgas fell to the bowling of Curtale in the 37th over.
Nick Berry was named man of the match and player of the competition finishing on 533 runs this season and four wickets.
Second grade
Meanwhile, Bowling Club’s second grade side defeated Morongla by seven wickets in the B grade decider.
Morongla was skittled for 55 with Jesse Elgar (39 not out) the only batsman to post any decent runs. Bowling Club bowlers Joe Waters finished with 2-2 off eight overs while Aiden Roberts did most of the damage taking 5-22 off eight.
Bowling Club chased the runs with the loss of three wickets. Lachlan Morrison scored 31 not out and Alana Ryan scored 18.
