BDCA PRELIMINARY FINAL - Roos overcome gallant Hawks to head into grand final

KANGAROO Flat bounced back from the face of adversity with both bat and ball to beat Eaglehawk by 20 runs in Saturday's Bendigo District Cricket Association preliminary final to earn a shot at its first flag in 16 years.

The Roos will face the unbeaten Strathdale-Maristians in next Saturday's grand final in a clash of what have been the season's two clear standout sides.

The underdog Hawks, though, had the Roos on the ropes throughout the match played on a lightning fast outfield at the QEO.

Firstly, at 4-41 in the 16^th over after winning the toss the Roos were under the pump and desperate for a partnership against the disciplined Hawks' bowling attack.

It wouldn't come though until late in the innings when - not for the first time this season - Brent Hamblin and Dylan Klemm combined for a crucial stand to lift Kangaroo Flat's total to 7-153 from its 45 overs.

Later in the day the Roos faced another challenge when the Hawks had progressed to 3-109 in the 36^th over of their chase, needing less than a run-a-ball, seven wickets in hand and two batsmen well set at the crease: Angus Chisholm and Matt Fitt.

However, a flurry of late wickets led by the Roos' Lewis Stabler snuffed out the Hawks' chances of an upset as they were bowled out for 133 to end their season of vast improvement.

Stabler bagged four of the last seven wickets to fall, and with his earlier scalp of opener Russell Stockdale (3), who he charged down the wicket to take a caught and bowled dismissal, finished with five scalps.

The left-armer claimed 5-38 off seven overs - the second time in as many seasons he has dominated a final with the ball after taking 6-21 for Huntly-North Epsom in a semi against Strathfieldsaye 12 months ago.

Stabler was on a hat-trick after dismissing Chisholm and Brendan Archbold (0) in consecutive deliveries, but No.11 Richard Tibbett (2 n.o.) denied him the feat.

As well as his five-for, Stabler also provided one of the highlights of the game with his blinder of a diving catch at mid-off to remove Eaglehawk captain Cory Jacobs (2).

Hamblin continued his fine season with the ball, taking an economical 1-17 off 8.1 overs, while Adam Burns (2-18) took two of the first three wickets to fall.

A welcome sight for the Roos was the return of Dylan Klemm to their bowling attack.

Having been hampered by a back concern, Klemm hadn't bowled since round nine, but he sent down eight overs for a return of 1-25.

The cornerstone of the Hawks' innings was a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket between 17-year-old Chisholm and veteran Fitt.

Coming together with the score 3-42 in the 11^th over, they had the Hawks on the path to chasing down their target, progressing the score to 109 in the 36^th over.

However, when Stabler's move to switch around the wicket paid dividends for the Roos when he bowled Fitt (28), it signaled the beginning of the end for Eaglehawk.

The Hawks' last seven wickets tumbled for just 24 runs to be all out for 133.

In a game where the runs didn't flow freely, Chisholm showed why he is such an exciting prospect for the Hawks, compiling a half-century.

No.3 Chisholm (51) batted for 154 minutes and 120 balls and struck four boundaries before he was the eighth wicket to fall when caught by Roos' skipper Chris Barber at square leg.

Apart from Chisholm and Fitt, the only other Eaglehawk player to reach double figures was opener Josh Williams (21).

Earlier, Hamblin and Klemm provided the partnership the Roos were desperately needing to lift their total above 150.

The Roos had been 7-92 in the 37^th over before Hamblin (42 n.o.) and Klemm (28 n.o.) put on an unbroken 51 off the last 51 balls to take Kangaroo Flat to 7-153.

Hamblin, who had started his knock at 5-62 in the 28^th over, cracked six boundaries and Klemm whacked four fours - one of which was a brilliant ramp shot off Nick Farley off the second-last ball of the innings.

Hamblin and Klemm scoring at a run-a-ball to close out the innings came after the Hawks had contained the Roos to a run-rate of just 2.34 for the first 35 overs.

The consistency of the Hawks' line and length was shown by of the 280 balls they bowled (including wides and no balls), the Roos only scored 67 times off the bat.

All five Eaglehawk bowlers used took a wicket - Aaron Monro (2-21), leg-spinner Stockdale (2-26), Jacobs (1-25), Farley (1-38) and Tibbett (1-41).

For the Roos, the victory was their first in a final since they beat Strathdale-Maristians in a semi in 2007-08, with the club having played 156 games in between.

"It's a great feeling to have got through to the grand final... it's what we set out at the start of the season to do," said first-year Roos' captain Chris Barber.

"It has been a long time coming and we're really excited about taking on the challenge next week."

Roos' batsman Josh Collinson returned to the side from a knee injury and made 16 against his former team.

However, he was forced from the ground while fielding with another knee concern, but Barber expected him to be right to play in the grand final when the Roos will chase their first flag since 2005.

Meanwhile, although falling one step short of playing in a grand final, the season was very much a success for the Hawks.

The Hawks rose from eighth last season to third, with skipper Jacobs excited by what the future holds for the club given the developing youth.

"The bigger picture is really exciting for us, and to have been able to get two finals into our young kids has been great," Jacobs said.

"The future is bright at Eaglehawk. It's a pity we weren't able to get over the hurdle today, but full credit to Kangaroo Flat. They were terriffic and I wish them all the best next week.

"We're looking forward to coming back bigger and stronger next year."

5 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 0-13

Eaglehawk - 1-20

10 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 3-26

Eaglehawk - 2-41

15 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 3-41

Eaglehawk - 3-43

20 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 4-48

Eaglehawk - 3-49

25 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 4-56

Eaglehawk - 3-62

30 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 5-69

Eaglehawk - 3-73

35 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 6-82

Eaglehawk - 3-100

40 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 7-113

Eaglehawk - 6-123

45 OVERS:

Kangaroo Flat - 7-153

Eaglehawk - 133

MEANWHILE, STRATHDALE-Maristians has the chance to add to its trophy cabinet next weekend, with the Suns to feature in four of the Bendigo District Cricket Association's senior competition grand finals.

Having already won their way directly through to the first XI, fourth XI and under-18 grand finals last week, the Suns also have their second XI in following their victory over Strathfieldsaye in Saturday's preliminary final.

The Suns defeated the Jets by 52 runs at Bell Oval.

Batting first, the Suns compiled 150, which was well beyond the Jets, who were all out for 98 as Strathdale qualified for its first second XI grand final since 2013-14 where it will take on Sandhurst.

* In the third XI preliminary final, Strathfieldsaye emerged from a gripping game against White Hills.

The Jets posted 8-82 off their 25 overs, which proved to be just enough as the Demons were all out for 80 on the second-last ball of their chase.

The Jets now face Bendigo United in the grand final, with the Redbacks gunning for a hat-trick of third XI premierships.

* Huntly-North Epsom won its way through to the fourth XI grand final.

The Power successfully defended their score of 155 against Bendigo, which was restricted to 6-139 in reply.

* And Bendigo has earned a shot at ending Strathdale-Maristians' reign of dominance in the under-18s.

The Goers (4-113) beat Strathfieldsaye (78) by 35 runs on Friday night to advance to a showdown with the Suns, who have won the past five flags.

............................................

BDCA GRAND FINALS

FIRST XI

Strathdale-Maristians v Kangaroo Flat

SECOND XI

Sandhurst v Strathdale-Maristians

THIRD XI

Bendigo United v Strathfieldsaye

FOURTH XI

Strathdale-Maristians v Huntly-North Epsom

UNDER-18

Strathdale-Maristians v Bendigo

Venues to be announced this week.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: