Lucindale v Rendelsham
The inaugural winner of the Dale Bateman Memorial Premiership Shield should be known by 5pm on Saturday when the final ball is bowled in the Millicent Naracoorte Cricket Association 2024/25 season.
Either home team and minor premiers Lucindale or 2023/24 runner-up Rendelsham will take custody of the new shield for the coming 12 months.
It honours the memory of the noted Furner sportsman, farmer and community worker who died last year and was known as “Batey”.
Members of the Bateman family will be on hand to witness the presentation.
The heat policy has blighted the competition all summer and temperature in the 30s are again forecast for this weekend.
If the threshold is reached on Saturday, play will be abandoned and the grand final will be played on Sunday.
Although mind games can play tricks in grand finals and remarkable feats occur, there should be no early decision as the two teams are so evenly matched.
They have met on two occasions during the 2024/25 minor round for one win apiece.
Their first encounter was in round three on November 9 at Lucindale when the visitors won by six wickets and with 11 overs to spare.
Batting first, Lucindale made 160 thanks mainly to scores in the 30s by Will Graetz, Michael McGurk and Daniel McCarthy.
In reply, Rendelsham stormed to victory at almost a run-per-ball.
All-rounder Dylan Clough was outstanding with an unbeaten 62.
However, he has been injured since Christmas and will not play on Saturday.
Lucindale was able to turn the tables in the return match at the Rendelsham Cricket Ground in round 10 on January 18.
It was again Lucindale who batted first, posting a competitive 9/164.
The run scoring was headed by Nick Cane with 58 and Michael McGurk with 57.
However, Rendelsham succumbed to the wiles of Nathan James (4/22) and were still 43 in arrears when the last wicket fell in the 31st over.
Only Jake Wight with 37 looked comfortable at the crease.
Both grand finalists looked in good touch in winning their qualifying finals at home by comfortable margins.
Playing at home, Lucindale made 8/206 and then dismissed the Naracoorte Warriors for 116.
Rendelsham was unfazed in playing reigning premiers Millicent Black Hats at Norm Facey Oval in Millicent.
They chased down the target of 145 with five wickets and four overs in hand.
With such finely balanced sides, the outcome of the toss could be crucial.
Rendelsham skipper Ayden Reid must have either walked under a ladder or broken a mirror as he has lost the past five tosses.
Lucindale lost the toss in the qualifying final but were invited to bat by the Naracoorte Warriors.
This club did the same thing in a minor final against Rendelsham a few years ago.
Rendelsham lost the toss but were invited to bat.
Twin centuries to Jake Wight and Jacob Carger took the score well past 300 and the Naracoorte Warriors batsmen fell well short.
PREDICTION
The sour memory of their disappointing 2023/24 grand final has stuck in the minds of Rendelsham players all summer.
Some form of retribution was obtained in the qualifying win over the Millicent Black Hats last weekend.
The next step is to lower the colours of Lucindale on their home deck.
That can only be achieved with solid contributions by all 12 players.
