Bulls go back to back

By Todd Whelan

Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club

GDCA McIntyre Premier Firsts
A healthy crowd of the local cricket faithful has witnessed Bacchus Marsh triumph by six wickets in Sunday’s GDCA McIntyre Grand Final at Maddingley Park.
The Bulls had to overcome some nervous moments with the bat on day two after looking in some bother at 4/125, chasing 205 for victory.
Usual suspects Alex Porter (9), James Lidgett (38) and Pete Lalor (64) were all in the dressing room with Mili Sepala and ‘Skeeta’ Wakefield new at the crease and still with plenty to do.
Bulls coach James Lidgett acknowledged there were some anxious moments.
“Chasing 200 odd was never going to be a push over,” he said.
“At four wickets down and still needing a further 80, we were always nervous.
“We were just needing one more decent partnership with the bat to see us through.
“And we got that through the experience of Mili (Sepala) and Skeeta (Wakefield).”
Lidgett praised his reliable bowling attack once again, for setting up the win.
“Our bowling effort was tight and economical,” he said.
“James Bailey got his just rewards for his relentless pressure with five wickets and the player of the match medal.
“We stuck to the game plan that has worked for us all season and we executed perfectly.”
The significance of the win was not missed by Bulls Chairman of Selectors Tony Kight either, who has ridden all of the highs and lows of the cricket club.
“Just thrilled with the win,” he said.
“We’ve come a long way when you think back just four seasons ago when we were fighting to avoid relegation.”
Kight attributes the clubs ‘want’ to be professional again as the catalyst behind their meteoric rise in recent seasons.
“We knew that signing James (Lidgett) would be a good start,” he said.
“I sat down with ‘Lidge’ at Christmas time and we decided to settle on an XI and back them in – rain, hail or shine,”
The role of humble veteran and free hitting batsman Pete Lalor was always going to be an important one.
“Pete is a player than can take a game away from any opposition pretty quickly,” Kight said.
“He steps up in big games, and he did the same again today.
“But let’s not take anything away from our bowlers,” Kight said.
“If someone had of said that ‘Eka’ (Madushanka Ekanayake) would bowl just 18 overs of the 100, you would think they were mad.
“It was a real team effort,” he said.
“Now we can enjoy some well-earned frothies.”
While the sun sets on another successful season for the Bulls, any talk of a three-peat was just a little ‘too soon’. But what is certain….. James Lidgett will return in 2019/20 for a second season in the top job (three-year deal) and young gun Alex Porter will loom an even tougher assignment to dismiss following a stint in England on a cricketing scholarship starting next month.

Results – Grand Finals
GDCA McIntyre Premier Firsts
Bacchus Marsh v Gisborne
Gisborne 204 All out, Overs 97.1.
J. Bailey 5/53, R. Watson 3/38, M. Ekanayake 1/37.
Bacchus Marsh 4/208, Overs 79.4.
P. Lalor 64, M. Sepala 60no, J. Lidgett 38, S. Wakefield 27no.
Bacchus Marsh won by six wickets

GDCA Johnstone Shield District Firsts
St Anthonys v Bacchus Marsh
St Anthonys 9/269, Overs 103.
T. Wardell 6/70, J. Taylor 2/49, B. Croxford 1/52
Bacchus Marsh 242 All out, Overs 103.
S.Taylor 105, M. Cousins 32, D. Closter 21, B. McGrath 21.
Bacchus Marsh lost by 27 runs.