By Tyler Lewis
Upsets seemed to be the theme of the WGCA on Saturday with straight sets exits taking place again in the A Grade competition.
After falling to Kooweerup last week, Cardinia, the Bulls, took on an in-form Tooradin side for a place in the grand final against the Demons.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first the Gulls had dished up a woeful total, falling to 7/68 before being held to 116 from its 40 overs.
Ash Adams (28 from 17 balls) was the only batter in the top five for the Gulls to reach double-figures.
A crucial 27 from 66 rocks from Shane Somers proved vital, as the Gulls scraped to a score over 100.
Cardinia’s Josh Browne (3/23 off eight) was instrumental for the Bulls with the ball, sending three of the Tooradin top four back to the pavilion.
To win the match, the Gulls needed to take 10 wickets and needed to make in roads on that 10 early.
The visitors stepped up to the task, having the Bulls 4/19 then 5/24.
Minor starts etched the Bulls closer to a grand final berth before another collapse shifted momentum once again.
The Bulls had made their way to 6/78, with Jordan Healey (15) and Josh Grogan (26 not out) at the crease, before chaos made another cameo appearance.
Healey departed after a run out, before Somers (2/23 off 5.4) bobbed up like a sprinkler to finish the job.
Between the brace of wickets from Somers was a run out that involved Bailey Lownds.
Lownds was crucial in the run defence, putting a strangle hold on the Bulls through sheer dot ball pressure.
The right-arm tweaker bowled eight overs with figures of 1-4. His spell included four maidens and impressively enough… two wides.
The eight over spell was monumental in the Gulls – at one point – believing they could defend the total without collecting the 10 wickets.
Tooradin secured the nail-biting win in 38.4 overs by 11 runs.
Kooweerup defeated Tooradin in both of the back-to-back fixtures in the first two weeks after Christmas, chasing big totals with ease in both encounters.
But with the injection of Lownds – who didn’t play in either games – the Gulls will go in full of confidence.
GRAND FINAL
Kooweerup v Tooradin – Kooweerup Recreation Reserve 1pm.
