Darke Peak has been named premiers of Eyre Peninsula’s largest cricket association, defeating Buckleboo by two wickets in a close, low scoring and ultimately thrilling Eastern Eyre grand final at Cleve.
With the win, the Peak claimed their first piece of silverware since taking home the 2016-17 shield, while also quashing Buckleboo’s hopes of going back-to-back.
A grade – Darke Peak 8/116 def Buckleboo 10/111
Before ball one, Buckleboo’s chances of making it two in a row were off to as good a start as any, with the Crossbats winning the toss and electing to bat on a pristine Cleve Oval – despite some humid and overhead conditions.
Entering the big dance boasting key batsmen in form, with the likes of skipper Jordan Stutley and veteran Matthew Vandeleur coming off recent centuries, Buckleboo would have been short odds to post a total in excess of 180.
But Darke Peak bowler Brodie Pearson, coming on at first change, obviously had not paid attention to what the bookies had to say, trapping Stutley leg before wicket on five, before removing the ever-dangerous “Burger” Fitzgerald for 21.
With the big in-swing of Pearson blowing the game wide open, and then the experienced Vandeleur succumbing to Rhett Schumann’s sole over for the day (1/11), the reigning premiers were 3/50 and shaky as a rain delay brought pause to action.
With the outfield wet and the ball growing soggy, bowling had its challenges after the break, but Darke Peak fielded well and thanks to quality middle over spells from Kyron McCallum (3/28) and Jack Kenny (3/28), the Buckleboo tail – which did not get a whole lot of exposure across the season – were unable to push toward the 150-mark.
In pursuit of the awkward total, Ryan Siebert (21 from 55) was rock solid through the opening spell and beyond, as he and Max Ramsey (38 from 58) combined for a match-winning middle order partnership.
Just as the Peak looked to be cruising to victory at 2/74, Buckleboo leg-spinner Brad Woolford (4/37) and Hudson Lord (2/14) combined for six wickets in short time, cutting Darke Peak down to 8/106 as pressure mounted at Cleve Oval.
The equation, as Rhett Schuman joined Kyron McCallum at the crease was simple – Darke Peak needed six to win, two wickets in hand.
When that became three runs to win, Kyron McCallum skied a ball into the outfield, with a man under it – but was dropped, scampering through for a game-levelling two runs.
Had the cricket Gods wished it, things may have been different, but that is cricket.
Man of the match was Kyron McCallum for his three-wicket haul and vital 15 not out at number eight, with Darke Peak in sudden trouble as he strode to the crease.
B grade – Kimba 5/117 def Rudall 10/116
Having been the top team all year, Kimba claimed a relatively comprehensive, five-wicket victory in the B grade grand final, played at Cowell.
Led by man of the match Matt Shipard’s five-wicket haul, the Kimba bowling attack restricted Rudall to an under par total of 116.
Kimba’s opening combo of Nick Pengelley (2/14) and Joshua Solly (2/15) also joined Shipard with multiple wickets.
With the bat, openers Aaron Johnson (34) and Daniel Schilling (23) did the heavy lifting at the top of the order, seeing Kimba past the 50-mark without loss.
Down the order, number seven Joshua Chinnery struck 33 from 28 at a strike rate of 117.85 to see Kimba lift the shield.
