Batting: Nathan Kerr 82, Sachin Liyanage 37

Bowling: Aarush Patel 2/11, Nathan Kerr 2/34.

On Monday the 10th of March the First 11 met Radford for the much anticipated Colts Grand Final at Chisholm Oval. With the Skipper leading in his final game, the toss went as usual and he had lost it and we were put into the field. With the ball we knew we were going to have our work cut out. Radford managed to get to a score of 4/272 off their 40 overs with the best of the bowlers being Lucas 2/40 from his 8 and Aarush 1/47 from his 8 overs. As we went to bat we still felt as if we were very much in the game with the high class batting line up that had fired all season long. However it was not our day with the bat as wickets fell steadily and we were bowled out for 115. Josh Nuss and Lucas Louis both top scored with 19 each.

Batting:  Nathan Kerr 73, Lucas Louis 24.

Bowling: Lucas Louis 4/13, Tommy Smith 2/24.

The First XI is through to their one-day grand final and will face Radford on the 10th of March!

In very cool, some would say freezing conditions, the First XI lost the toss and were sent into bat. Nathan Kerr and Riley Roberts opened and with Riley out for a duck, it was obvious to all that the pitch was unpredictable. Nathan faced 101 balls scoring 73 runs. The WCMCC bowlers read the pitch well and kept Marist's  run rate low and took wickets consistently. The captain Lucas Louis with 24 runs, Josh Nuss with 17 and Sachin W with 19 runs. Marist finished the innings 8-169.

The opening WCMCC partnership was indomitable, scoring a collective century in 19 overs, until finally a breakthrough wicket from Lucas in the 20th over. Lucas bowled a stunning captain's spell taking four wickets in quick succession, refusing to let the match be his last for Marist. Aarush, Nathan, Josh all added pressure with tight bowling and WCMCC was all out in the 38th sending Marist to the grand final!

Batting: Jared Wilson 52*, Viira Pieris 18*, Hamish Foley 18.

Bowling: Adam Clarke 3/21, Viira Pieris 3/22, Will Hyson 2/15.

Notable Performance: Preston Singer (wk) 4 catches

Summary: Cricketers of a certain age and experience will be familiar with the following scenario. I'm talking about the process of eliminating the inner voice that suggests THIS time putting the opposition in might be best. The heat will only get worse later, so bow ... BAT ... plenty of grass on the pitch, could jag a bit early, so bow ... BAT ... etc. Just come to your senses and BAT. Set a target and pile on the pressure. We'd barely won a toss all season, so probably a moot point anyway. Naturally Plugger won the toss and bowled. With a little trepidation we watched the early overs pass wicketless. Would the Eddies boys survive the early movement and prosper later as the pitch baked in the hot sun? In a word, no. Slow and perhaps over-cautious batting gave way to inevitable wickets, followed by more over-cautious batting. Moments of frustration from the batsmen generally precipitated their demise; VP and spinner Adam in particular profited and their patience and skill was rewarded with three wickets apiece. The bowling group as a whole excelled. It felt relentless as the dot balls and maiden overs mounted - three in a row from Finn the highlight. In the end, Eddies dug themselves into a hole and were dismissed for 94 from 30-odd overs, the final wicket a superbly judged catch by keeper Hey Presto! ... one of four he took for the innings in an expert display behind the stumps. The psychology of chasing low totals is well known. Get on with it, don't dither. Passing on such wisdom to Ham and Jared bordered on the absurd. They know no other way. After six or so overs we were already halfway there. We lost a wicket at about fifty but nothing changed with VP (the VeeP) at the crease. A run a ball partnership sealed the result with Jared bringing up yet another half-ton. His season to date has been outstanding. And speaking of seasons, a Merry Christmas to everyone at Marist Cricket Club from Andy, Justin, Richard and the 2nd XI boys.

Batting: H Foley 104*, N Brown 25.
Bowling: A Clarke 2/23.

TIGHT BOWLING RESTRICTS RADFORD

Radford began by losing three early wickets before an excellent 100 run partnership took hold. Logan, bowled tirelessly, maintaining tight lines and lengths, ultimately taking a well-deserved wicket in the latter stages of the innings. Ethan's pace and bounce put the top order on the back foot from the outset. Steady middle-over spells from Adam and Cal kept the Radford batsmen in check; both showed excellent control and variations. As the innings progressed, Marist's fielding effort unfortunately waned. Dropped catches and missed run outs allowing Radford to gain late innings momentum and set a target of 157 runs for Marist to chase.

FOLEY CENTURY POWERS MARIST TO VICTORY

The Marist run chase started on a more cautious footing, which perhaps led to the fall of the first wicket. Ham was joined by Noah and they began to build a solid partnership, highlighted by increasingly expansive stroke play. The total surpassed 100 runs just before the halfway break when, unexpectedly, two wickets fell in successive deliveries. The setback only proved momentary: Ham remained belligerent and was joined by the calm, measured VeeP. Together, they demonstrated remarkable composure, brushing off the challenge and running down the target with apparent ease. Ham's innings was a standout performance, culminating in a dominant century marked by explosive six-hitting. VeeP played a crucial supporting role, carefully managing the strike and ensuring Ham had the opportunity to guide Marist to victory.

Batting: H Foley 84*, E Tijo 50, N Brown 37*.

Bowling: W Hyson 2/23, E Golder 2/30, E Tijo 2/36.

TOP ORDER POWERS MARIST INTO GRAND FINAL

Tuggeranong won the toss and elected to bat. They had a slow but steady start, but the loss of key wickets in the middle overs disrupted their momentum. Useful late partnerships helped Tuggeranong maintain a reasonable run rate, and they were able to accelerate towards the end of the innings. Marist's bowlers remained focused, with Plugger returning from injury and bowling well. Ed and Goldy also took crucial wickets, and Tuggeranong finished with a competitive total.

Marist's innings got off to a flying start, with Ham and Ed dominating the bowling. Ed, in particular, played some superb shots all over the ground. Ham continued his composed approach after the opening partnership and he was joined by Browny with the score at 102. The pair wasted no time in chasing down the remaining runs, hitting a flurry of fours and sixes to secure Marist's spot in the Grand Final.

Batting: T Jexin 41*; C Fenwick 21.

Bowling: E Golder 3/20; V Peiris 2/2.

Batting: E Golder 79.

Bowling: C Fenwick 2/17; E Tijo 2/30.

MARIST NARROWLY DEFEATED IN GF AFTER GOLDER MASTER-CLASS

Despite a masterful innings from Ethan Golder, Marist was narrowly defeated in a tight Grand Final last Sunday. Marist won the toss but the top order struggled against a strong opening attack, and at 6/46 the outlook was bleak. Golder, however, had other plans. With crucial support from Callum Fenwick, the pair staged a remarkable recovery, taking the score from 8/76 to 9/138. Golder's counter-attacking innings was one of complete substance, forged in the most challenging circumstances. Captain Will Hyson and Fenwick then combined for an unbeaten 30-run stand, leaving Marist with a competitive total and a sense of renewed momentum. Both boys deservedly finished on 18 not out.

Marist then took to the field with great enthusiasm and despite a solid opening partnership, patiently stayed in the contest. A crucial breakthrough finally came at 50 runs, with Jimmy Bartlett taking a magnificent reflex catch off Hyson's bowling. From this point, the game tightened. Marist continued to take wickets, highlighted by a brilliant team run-out courtesy of Jared Wilson, Ed Tijo and Noah Brown. At 5/104, the boys arguably had the upper hand. However, a couple of missed chances and a slight lapse in energy allowed Daramalan to regain control and ultimately secure the win. The boys battled hard and should be proud of their efforts both on the day and for the season as a whole.

Batting: L.Allardyce 87*, E Golder 61, E Tijo 26, H Foley 21.
Bowling: J Fosberry 3/19, N Batch 2/16.

Marist Captain VP won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening partnership between Ham and Ed was crucial, as they put together a rapid 45-run partnership. Weston Creek fought back impressively however, taking five quick wickets to leave Marist in a precarious position at 5 for 70. This sudden collapse could have been a turning point in favour of Weston Creek.

GOLDER AND ALLARDYCE WREST BACK THE ADVANTAGE

Goldy and Luke played a pivotal role in rebuilding the innings. Their mix of solid defence and brutal stroke play allowed them to form one of the best partnerships of the season. Both batsmen scored at a run-a-ball pace, which helped Marist regain the advantage. Foz joined Luke late in the innings and contributed to an exhilarating finish. This late surge in runs ensured that Marist posted a substantial total of 6 for 236.

With a big total to defend, Marist's bowlers took to the field with high spirits. Cal managed to take a wicket with the first ball of the innings, which added to the excitement and put Weston Creek on the back foot right from the start.

DISCIPLINED BOWLING, TIGHT FIELDING KEY TO MARIST VICTORY

Marist's disciplined bowling effort, backed by tight fielding, kept the pressure on Weston Creek throughout their innings. Despite the Creek batters' efforts, they never truly threatened to reach their target. This week's fill-ins, Foz and Noah, both took multiple wickets, further contributing to Marist's excellent result. Their performance highlighted the club's depth and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Batting: Tom Jexin 53.

Bowling: Tom Jexin 4/31, Harry David 2/22.

Batting: Hayden Gripske 25., Dom Honan 13.