Cuballing keep grand final hopes alive with elimination final win over Lake Grace, Williams advance to decider

Cuballing kept their Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade title hopes alive on Saturday, emerging with a comfortable 32-run win against Lake Grace in the elimination first semifinal. A clinical bowling display was the catalyst in the victory for the third-placed side after they posted a solid total of 144 batting first in Cuballing. Lake Grace opening pair Kalan Joyce and Matt Trevenen put on a 36-run stand to get the run chase off to a strong start before the latter was clean bowled for 23 in the ninth over. Joyce (12 runs) followed suit 11 balls later with star bowler Grady Francis snaring both wickets to leave Lake Grace at 2-37. Things didn’t get easier after middle order batsmen Jack Carruthers (2), Alex Duckworth (0) Dylan Brooks (13), Kael Gray (7) and Craig Shaw (0) all fell before drinks to leave the visitors reeling at 7-67. Mitchell Smith and Rob Enright injected some life back into a flat batting display with a 45-run partnership but when Enright was caught off the bowling of Brock Francis, the unlikely chance of a comeback was in tatters. Reuben Smith’s stumps were knocked over two balls later, sparking joyous scenes among the Cuballing faithful as they held on for a famous win. Brock Francis finished with outstanding bowling figures of 5-23, taking the final four scalps of the match. Joe Dowling (2-25) and Grady Francis (2-16) were the other multiple wicket takers. Earlier, Cuballing were anchored by strong knocks to Rhett Ballard (41), Bevan George (27) and Grady Francis (28). Joyce finished as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-21 for Lake Grace while Smith also snared 2-22. Meanwhile, Williams advanced directly into the A-grade grand final on Saturday, emerging as 43-run winners over Wandering in the second semifinal. Williams secured a first appearance in a grand final since their 2018 defeat against Harrismith, skittling Wandering for 97 runs in the chase. Rodney Ford put the team on his back with a terrific 89-run innings to help Williams post 141 batting first before they skittled Wandering for 97 runs. Bryan Hardie (3-12) and Lewis Parsons (3-37) returned impressive bowling figures in a losing affair. Troy Warburton (26) and Benjamin Sherry (27) top-scored for Wandering in the chase but they were bowled out comfortably inside 37 overs. Rodney Ford showed his versatility, backing up his dominant batting display to finish with the best bowling figures for Williams, snaring 3-7 and three maidens. Teammates Steven Ford (2-25) and Brock Titko (2-14) also chipped in. Wandering and Cuballing will put their seasons on the line in Saturday’s preliminary final at Wandering, starting at noon.