Minor premiers Lucindale will host 2023/24 runner-up Rendelsham on Saturday to see who will win the Milicent Naracoorte Cricket Association premiership.


The winning club will take possession of the Dale Bateman Memorial Premiership Shield which is being awarded for the first time.


It honours the memory of the Furner sportsman, farmer and community worker who passed away in 2024.


Both teams had comfortable victories on Saturday to qualify for the grand final.


Rendelsham 5/145 defeated Millicent Black Hats 10/144


Rendelsham avenged their loss at home to the Millicent Black Hats in the 2023/24 grand final by winning the qualifying final at Norm Facey Oval at Millicent by five wickets and with four overs in hand.


Played before a large crowd and on a lightning-fast outfield, the fortunes of the two teams ebbed and flowed.


The visiting team only looked likely to win in the final 10 minutes of play.


Mitchell Nitschke won the toss and his top order Black Hats got the job done.


Headed by Ashton Lindner with a game high 54, at one stage the reigning premiers were 3/107.


However, the last seven wickets only produced 37 runs and the innings ended in the 38th over.


Jacob Carger was the destroyer with match best figures of 4/22.


In reply, Rendelsham had to score at little more than three runs power over and most batsmen took few risks.


Jake Wight was the best with 39 and the only one to score at better than a run per ball.


Lucindale 8/206 defeated Naracoorte Warriors 10/112


Minor premiers Lucindale earned the right to host a qualifying final against the fourth-placed Naracoorte Warriors and held the upper hand for most of the contest.


Surprisingly sent into bat after losing the toss, Lucindale piled on the runs to reach 8/206 by the end of the 40 overs.


Significant contributions came from Henry Tregoweth (25), Nick Cane (35), Tom Fisher (53) and Shane McGurk (42) while Brad Redding took the bowling honours with 2/36.


Having to score at a rate of more than five runs per over, the Naracoorte Warriors fell well short.


The visitors fell 95 runs behind the target thanks to tight bowling and fielding from the home team and were dismissed in the 31st over.


Kieron Hicks top-scored with 49 while four of his clubmates reached double figures but could go little further.


The pick of the bowlers was Michael McGurk with 3/7 and two outfield catches.


Four of his clubmates also snared wickets.