The Gisborne District Cricket Association had to settle for third at Bendigo Country week, after looking set to play off in the division 1 grand final for a short period of time.
The GDCA finished third in their division, behind Murray Valley and Goulburn Murray who won the right to play in Friday’s grand final.
Then on Thursday night Goulburn Murray and division 3 side Northern United were sensationally disqualified from their respective grand finals for playing too many players.
Teams are only allowed to play 17 players across the week.
Goulburn Murray successfully appealed the decision and were reinstated to the grand final two hours later.
The late week drama ended a week when the GDCA won two games and lost their other two.
The team started the week with a big win against Castlemaine & District Cricket Association.
Riddell’s Craig Ballinger top scored with 84 for the GDCA in their total of 9-256. GDCA then restricted CDCA to 172. St Anthonys’ Nathan Dantonio took three wickets.
Day two was the Ben Way show against Emu Valley.
Emu Valley made a respectable 6-209 batting first, but it proved no match for the Romsey captain-coach Way.
Way smashed 175 off 140 balls, which included 17 fours and six sixes. The century is his third across all formats this season. He has also scored four 50s.
The GDCA ended their overs 5-320.
The GDCA dropped their third match against Northern Districts. The GDCA made 7-233 with St Anthonys’ Cam Clayton top scoring with 66. Woodend’s Warren Else chipped in with 60.
Northern Districts opener Tyler Jones proved to be the thorn in the GDCA’s side making 128 to get his side within reach of the total. Northern Districts got the job done, all out for 256 on the final ball.
Needing a win in the final round to make the grand final, the GDCA lost to top side Murray Valley.
Murray Valley made 7-215 off its overs with Woodend’s Tom Robson, Bacchus Marsh’s Ian Spiteri and Romsey’s Taylor Stevenson taking two wickets each.
The GDCA could only manage 196, bowled out with three overs remaining.
Woodend’s Josh Eastley top scored, run out for 63.
The results mean the GDCA finish with the same amount of wins as last year, but finish a position higher.
