Grand Final vs Kingsguard. March 4th 2021. Premiership Number Eight Secured.

The Cutters had played Kingsguard 3 times previously in the Summer 2020-21 season, with The Cutters leading 2-1. Kingsguard had prevailed 90 to 125 in the second semi final.

We won the toss and elected to bat. A steady  start by Donaldson and Latchford, the score was 11 with 7 balls to go in the pair. Successive boundaries, a 4 and a 7, by Latchford got the innings going. With 2 extra balls in the fourth over and no further outs, 33 was posted.

Perry and Hill in their customary second pair spot accumulated well for the first two overs before Hill was run out by a good throw and then caught at the back net after the bowler deflected a firmly hit drive in the third over. No more outs, and another eight ball final over saw the pair finish with 39.

Vlastuin and Hitchman had an “outless” pair. Hitchman scored 28 off his first nine balls. Great support from Vlastuin and a calm approach to the last nine balls of the innings saw the pair post a brilliant total of 49.

With only four outs for the innings, a healthy total of 121 would take some chasing down.

Donaldson and Perry started well with the ball. A firmly struck on-drive in the third over from Donaldson was deflected by Vlastuin in close and Donaldson completed the caught and bowled. This was the only wicket taken in the first pair, and they would post a score of 34. Kingsguard won the skin by one run.

The next wicket would not come until the fourth ball of the sixth over when a Perry yorker crashed into Kai’s middle stump.

A timely -2 over from Hitchman turned the game squarely in The Cutters favour. A marvellous direct hit run out by Vlastuin on the last ball of the eighth over almost ensured that a Cutters victory was inevitable.

Oscar, Kingsguard’s gun, was heard to utter “it’s a big ask” as he strode to the wicket. The last pair needed  68 to win the game. The pressure was to prove too much. Catches from Perry, Vlastuin and Hitchman, and a great long throw from Perry to keeper Donaldson for a run out, were notable in the last pair. The pair finished with 28, Kingsguard with 82.

We always say that if 3 make 10 and 3 make 20, you will win a lot of games. Only 4 outs helped accomplish this, and 121, especially in a grand final, is a tough total to overhaul. The Cutters had put together a fine team performance.

Hitchman was named man of the match.

Thanks to the Latchford family for coming along to support us.

Thanks also to Carlos and Danny for their efforts in helping us get to the Grand Final.

Campbell, the Kingsguard captain, was lavish in his praise for our fielding, especially given our advanced years.

Premiership number eight is in the trophy cabinet. Interestingly, six of the eight have been won in the first week of March!