Four clubs earn titles

ON THE back of a man of the match performance from Oliver McCracken, Mil Lel has claimed the O’Donoghue Shield (Under 17) with a comprehensive victory over South Gambier and Frew Park.

Restricting South to 77, dismissing the Maroons in the 40th over, Mil Lel opted for an aggressive run chase – the looming wild weather no doubt part of the motivation, and they scored the winning runs in the 15th over having lost only three wickets along the way.

McCracken took 3/4 from 7.1 overs and then went on to score 23 from 26 balls as part of Mil Lel’s dynamic opening duo, that saw Tayte Virtanen score a quickfire 13 from 17, with Ryan Lucas adding the finishing touches with his unbeaten 18 from 13 balls.

South Gambier won the toss and elected to bat, opting for runs on the board but despite the top order all getting starts and Miller Bradley digging in to top score with 20 in the middle order, South struggled to build significant partnerships and couldn’t get the tight Mil Lel bowling away.

Mil Lel bowled 14 maidens in the 40 over South innings, while South could not manage even one as Mil Lel dominated the run chase.

Mil Lel 3/78 (Oliver McCracken 23; Ryan Lucas 18no.; Tayte Virtanen 13; Harry Hicks 7ret.; Ethan Hunt 2/11; Jaggar Geary 1/7) d South Gambier 77 (Miller Bradley 20; Jaggar Geary 15; Patrick Sigley, Kobi Maxwell 10; Oliver McCracken 3/4; Ryan Lucas 2/11; Harry Hicks, Tayte Virtanen 1/14)

HALL TROPHY

It was the weather that had the biggest say in the Hall Trophy final between Penola/Naracoorte and South Gambier/Yahl at Frew Park. The O’Donoghue Shield and two Sims Shield finals were played on Thursday and Friday, as the grades have all season, but the traditional weekend fixturing of the Hall Trophy decider left the match in the hands of the gods and the weather just did not play ball, allowing only three overs to be bowled across the two days.

With the match abandoned, Penola/Naracoorte, as the higher finishing team claimed the 2025/26 title.

SIMS SHIELD

UNDER 12 GREEN

Runs on the board proved key in the Sims Shield (Under 12 Green) grand final with Mount Burr winning the toss and electing to bat and lay down the gauntlet to undefeated West Gambier.

The 8/127 was built on the middle order of man of the match Leo Mules (23), Joel Skeer, unbeaten on 19 and George Ballantyne with 18, while opener Jameson Bateman made a solid 11 to help lay the foundation for the good total.

Winston Deans was best with the ball for West with 3/8, while Benji Carter picked up two wickets and Jaxson Povey chipped in with one.

Deans added 25 to his three wickets as West Gambier got off to a good start in the run chase with Arthur Badenoch also making his mark with an unbeaten 25.

Povey was also a key contributor with 15 and Archie Little tried to hit out late with 10 from 10 but Mt Burr was able to dig in and hold off the Roos to take the title.

Mt Burr 8/127 (Leo Mules 23ret.; Joel Skeer 19ret.; George Ballantyne 18; Jameson Bateman 11) Winston Deans 3/8; Beji Carter 2/19; Jaxson Povey 1/1) d West Gambier 8/112 (Arthur Badenoch 25ret.; Winston Deans 25; Jaxson Povey 15; Archie Little 10; Leo Mules 2/8; Archie Westerman 2/10; Jackson Stewart 1/12; Spencer Redman 1/0)

UNDER 12 GOLD

Millicent successfully defended its Sims Shield title in a hard fought final in the Under 12 Gold division against North Sportsman’s at the Reidy Park School Oval.

Winning the toss, Millicent put an impressive 4/122 on the board, headlined by man of the match Raff Lawlor’s unbeaten 40 and a 26 not out from Johnny Hamilton.

Frank Mules also helped lay the foundation of the total with his unbeaten 17 at the top of the order.

Beau Whelan was the only wicket taker for North, with the remaining three wickets coming via run outs.

North certainly gave the run chase a shake with Oliver Liddle and Ted Lucas both scoring 26 in relatively quick time, while Harry Lucas was unbeaten at the top of the order with 10 but Millicent was able to hold off any late charge with some tight death over bowling.

Jax Reilly and Lawlor were the only multiple wicket takers in the match, both taking 2/15, while Henry Hassell and Lauchlan Murphy also picked up a scalp each.

Millicent 4/122 (Raff Lawlor 40ret.; Johnny Hamilton 26ret.; Frank Mules 17; Harry Wight 8no.; Lachie Bromley 4no.; Beau Whelan 1/8)

SENIOR CRICKET GRAND FINALS

With the turf semi finals unable to be completed over the weekend and the hard wicket contests not even able to bowl a ball in anger, the wet weather ruling of the Mount Gambier & District Cricket Association came into play to set up this weekend’s title deciders.

BARBER SHIELD

Penola v East Gambier (Frew Park)

CROUCH SHIELD

South Gambier v Kongorong (BLSP – Turf)

COX BROS SHIELD

Tarpeena v Glencoe (Reidy Park School Oval)