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THE club with the longest existing premiership drought will play the Bendigo District Cricket Association’s modern day power in next weekend’s grand final.
Strathdale-Maristians and Sandhurst will contest the grand final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval after both emerged victorious on Sunday in their semi-finals.
Strathdale-Maristians was the first to have its grand final berth booked following a 75-run win over Bendigo at Bell Oval.
Next weekend will be the Suns’ eighth grand final in the past 10 years.
Their opponents – Sandhurst – haven’t played in a grand final since it won its last premiership in 1979.
To get through to its first decider in 39 years, the Dragons were pushed to the brink by Golden Square at Weeroona Oval, with only one run separating the two sides.
Chasing Sandhurst’s 262, Golden Square will be left lamenting what could have been as it finished at 8-261, with there to be no fairlytale centenary season premiership at Wade Street.
With Sandhurst captain Craig Howard bowling to Darren Clutton, Square needed three off the final ball of the match to win.
Square was restricted to just one run as the Dragons prevailed in a semi-final epic that featured 523 runs.
Next weekend’s grand final will pit the Dragons’ Howard against the team he previously captained and played in three premierships with – the Suns.