Sport
15 March, 2024
Grand final today: Band form fine tuned
WEDDERBURN Band goes into Saturday’s Upper Loddon cricket grand final as favourite and on the cusp of claiming its first premiership in six years. The Band has hit its straps at the right end of the season, helped by player availability settling...
WEDDERBURN Band goes into Saturday’s Upper Loddon cricket grand final as favourite and on the cusp of claiming its first premiership in six years.
The Band has hit its straps at the right end of the season, helped by player availability settling the lineup over the last month.
Opening bowlers Postle and Will Holt have shown the form needed to win the big dance. They can play the tune, particularly Postle who has bowled economically but was let down in the field earlier in the season.
Holt, too, is more than a handy big-hitter with the bat. A steady and calm stance will aid the opening spell of the Band’s innings.
Wedderburn would have been expecting to face Kingower and avenge a couple of cruel season finishes since that last flag.
But along came Arnold last weekend with other ideas. Scholes, Metelmann and Cam and Mike Dale have shown they can still turn a game.
In the meetings this season, Wedderburn has been on top of the competition’s southern Redbacks.
Wedderburn has usually had more than a couple of overs to spare in run chases although things were closer when the two opted for some 20:20 clashes during the season - the difference was just six runs last month.
There’s none of the quick hit and run style required for the grand final, instead a more methodical approach across 40 overs.
The reduced four-team competition in 2023-2024 has also shown that home and away season form matters for little at the real business end.
Arnold, in its 125th year, is playing its best brand of cricket since winning the flag two seasons ago. The Redbacks have also been blooding a few youngsters, including Hancock and Hewett.
But the Band is on song and deserves to start as favourites.
- CHRIS EARL