mmg.com.au

A thrilling finish to the Deniliquin District Cricket Association’s regular one-day season has ended in heartbreak for RSL/West.

Playing off for the prized DDCA One-Day Cup in a fortnight’s time will be reigning premier Hay and Mathoura and it all came down to one wicket.

When Mathoura bowler Dan Tayles claimed Jerilderie’s Dylan Henery in the 35th over on Saturday, he single-handedly saw his side advance through to the one-day final.

Had Henery lasted another five overs Mathoura’s year would have been all over and the Cannons would be in the play-off.

With Hay beating Juniors Combine by 36 runs on Saturday, the Hybrids leap-frogged RSL/West for top spot on the ladder and automatically booked themselves a spot in the 40-over decider.

Hay’s opponent would have been either RSL/West or Mathoura but the wicket of Henery, which ended the game, gave the Timbercutters an extra 0.5 points for a season total of 49.725 - just 0.425 more than the Cannons.

The grand final will be played in Hay on Saturday, December 15.

Hay v Juniors

A sterling 73-run knock from Dean Edge was a major factor in the Hybrids win over Juniors at Hay on Saturday, as was Mick Howard’s decision to field first.

‘‘We pretty much lost the game at the toss,’’ Juniors skipper Brad Todd said.

‘‘It was a real green top and the ball was dragging real bad for us and had eased up by the time Hay batted.

‘‘Our total wasn’t too bad but I would have liked to have made around the 160 mark.’’

Hay sent Juniors in to bat on a green and difficult surface and 12 overs later were four wickets richer, with Trevor Briggs (12), Rob Resuggan (36), Chris Pyle (4) and Todd (3) all safely back in the pavilion without doing too much damage.

Dynamic Hay allrounder Jason Bunyan (3-40) did most of the early damage, snaring three of the first four wickets, while Shayne Kennedy (4-24) ripped through the middle-order.

After dismissing Todd in his first over, Kennedy was on the verge of a hat-trick in his third, tempting both Michael Norman (8) and Shane Gittens (0) into the hands of Edge.

Deniliquin teenager Broden Larcombe (22) managed to avoid being the victim of a hat-trick but Kennedy made sure he got him before the end of the innings.

Lasting just 30 overs, Juniors made a defendable 121, which the Hybrids chased down in 32 overs.

Opener Ben Holmes (30) got his side off to a good start, putting on a 62-run third-wicket stand with Edge.

Edge cleared the rope three times and hit seven boundaries in what was a standout innings which lasted all the way to the 38th over.

Hay batted out the full 40 overs for a total of 7/157, while Kevin Gittens was Juniors only multiple wicket taker with 2-19.

Mathoura v Jerilderie

Last week Mathoura skipper Scott Vesty said in-form batsman Brendan Unwin could be the key to beating Jerilderie and the opener did his best to get his side off to a winning start.

Belting out 33 runs, Unwin topped the scoring for Mathoura and was ably supported by Dan Tayles (22) and Vesty (29).

Wickets fell at regular intervals for the Cutters, however, and by 24th over things looked bleak for the home side.

Sitting at 5-92, Mathoura’s middle and lower-order batsmen slugged it out to reach 135 as Jerilderie’s Lachlan Westwood (2-8) and Blair Henery (2-22) made headway with the ball.

In reply, Alistair Wells (37) and James Gregory (37) offered the most resistance, while Timbercutters Brodie Unwin, Jesse Mitchelhill and Tayles all snared multiple wickets.

In the 35th over, the Demons needed just nine runs for victory but Tayles was able to snare Henery and set his side up for a grand final berth.

Vesty’s defensive 29 is probably what saved the Cutters in the end, while his spell of 1-12 off eight overs, including four maidens, didn’t hurt either.

Final one-day ladder: Hay 51.75, Mathoura 49.725, RSL/West 49.3, Jerilderie 34.875, Juniors 26.625.