EMU Valley will make the step-up to the top tier of Bendigo Country Week next year after winning Friday’s division two grand final.
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For the second time this week, Emu Valley’s game with Goulburn Murray Colts came down to the final over.
But it was Emu Valley that prevailed this time, winning by two wickets at J.L. King Weeroona Oval after making 8-237 in reply to the Colts’ 5-232.
The Colts had both opener Quade Albert (67) and man-of-the-match Ryan McMinn (71 n.o.) score half-centuries during their innings.
Jesse Cuttriss (39 n.o) also batted well for the Colts, putting on an unbroken stand of 111 for the sixth wicket with McMinn.
Anthony Collins (2-64) and Shane Rabbitt (2-29) took two wickets each for Emu Valley.
Emu Valley had plenty of contributors during its innings in which momentum fluctuated.
Scott Ross (58) and Matt Dwyer (46) put on 72 for the first wicket and Daniel Chamberlain (38) and Andrew Collins (33) both scored in the 30s, before an unbeaten 18 from No.9 Cameron Moore guided the side over the line with four balls to spare.
Shannon Bish (2-38), Josh Preston (2-58) and captain Kirk Teasdale (2-58) took two wickets each for the Colts.
• Bendigo proved far too good for Grassmere in the division three final, winning by 75 runs at Harry Trott Oval.
Bendigo made the most of some ordinary Grassmere fielding to blast 9-242 batting first.
The star was young gun Brayden Stepien, who smashed 99 off 76 (six fours, five sixes), before he was caught at mid-on in his third half-century of the week.
Gareth Davies also batted well in making 64 off 54 balls.
Grassmere’s Tom Mahony toiled hard and was rewarded with 7-69 off 14 overs.
Grassmere was bowled out for 167 in its chase.
Eli Bowe (3-49) and Davies (3-18) claimed three wickets apiece for Bendigo.
Ben Julius (46) and opener James McKinnon (42) were the best of the Grassmere batsmen.