Tara Murray
A good team performance from Bacchus Marsh saw the side upset Romsey in the first week of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup finals.
In the battle between second and fifth, it was the lower ranked Bulls that were able to get the job done.
Bacchus Marsh coach Paul Baker said it was nice for a result to go their way from once.
The Bulls batted first after winning the toss, making 6-193 from their 80 overs.
Baker said he was ultimately happy with how they batted through some tough periods.
“Being a Saturday and Sunday final, runs on the board around 200 is not a bad score,” he said.
“They bowled really well and made it hard for us. We had to bat through that period and get 193, that had to bat reasonably to get the runs.”
David Dickinson top scored with 58, while Tom Dickinson made 50.
Taylor Stevenson took three wickets for Romsey.
Tom Wardell and Ian Spiteri started the Bulls bowling innings well and gave their side the momentum.
They would carry that through, bowling Romsey out for 171.
“Our opening bowlers in Tom Wardell and Ian Spiteri bowled really well and they were 2-8 off about 15 overs.
“It helped put the pressure back on them and they had to come for us.
“We took some really good catches in the field.”
Spiteri and Brenton Payne took three wickets each for the Bulls.
Baker said the most pleasing thing about the performance was that it was a real team effort.
“The pleasing thing is everyone contributed something,” he said. “ Whether it was fielding, batting or bowling, everyone did something.”
The Bulls now face Sunbury United in the semi finals for a spot in the grand final. Romsey will play Gisborne in the other semi final.
Baker said it would be a good challenge for them.
“They are in form,” he said. “They made lots of runs and we’re playing on their small ground.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
It’s been a big few weeks for the Bulls, with six senior sides in finals.
The seconds and third XIs were knocked out on the weekend, while the fourth and fifth XIs won through to the grand final this week.
The sixth XI claimed a premiership on Saturday.
Baker said it was really good for the club to have that many sides in finals.
