CRICKET FINAL: Rob Brown - Dalmeny fast bowler. Photo: Josh Gidney.
BAY Tigers Black clinched back-to-back Eurobodalla Cricket A grade premierships on Saturday, March 9 with another low-scoring win over Dalmeny-Narooma.
The win ensured the Tigers stamped their dominance on the shire’s senior competition – they have won both the minor premiership and grand final for the past two seasons.
Tigers skipper Gav Smart won the toss and elected to bat on the turf wicket at Hanging Rock only to see his side get off to a slow start.
Paul Gallen and Gav Ladmore saw out the opening bowlers before the latter edged a Matt Corbett delivery onto the stumps for 14.
Gav Smart then came and went for just eight after he hit a Dean Frisken delivery straight back into the bowler’s hands.
Mick Smart (eight) then experienced déjà vu when he fell victim to a controversial grand final LBW decision for the second season running – Dalmeny-Narooma bowler Rob Brown the beneficiary this time.
After seeing Mick Smart’s dismissal, an “angry” Gallen hit out only to give Brown his second wicket of the over. However, Gallen’s 42 set the platform for the Tigers.
Andy Malcolm got off the mark with a boundary and didn’t look back, but when Dan Smith was caught out for a duck off Brown (3/31), the Tigers had lost 3/6 to sit nervously at 5/88.
Corbett then took a spectacular diving catch in the outfield to remove Paul Brown for six off Dean Frisken’s bowling and Brad Hancock was back in the sheds soon after, also for six.
Malcolm, who had an x-ray on his foot yesterday to reveal a fractured toe suffered off a Kyle Field yorker, finished unbeaten on 45 to help the Tigers to a defendable total of 7/150.
Hancock tore through Dalmeny’s opening batsman early in the run chase when he removed Matt Moore LBW for one in his first over.
Frisken then fell in Hancock’s next over when he edged to Malcolm at second slip for six to have the visitors at 2/10.
Corbett and Daniel Simpson steadied Dalmeny’s innings but when on 31 and looking dangerous, Corbett smashed Luke Condon to deep mid-off only to be caught by a diving Dan Smith.
Mick Smart got involved in the wickets when Simpson flicked a leg side delivery to Malcolm at square leg and with the Tigers’ tails up, Mick Smart also removed Mick Stonehouse.
Brown may have removed Mick Smart (3/16) in the first innings but it was the Tigers all-rounder who had the last laugh,
With Dalmeny 6/67 and all its noted batsmen back in the sheds, the Tigers could smell victory.
And they didn’t have to wait long as Luke Condon, Malcolm and Walsh combined to pick up the remaining four wickets and have Dalmeny-Narooma all out for 86.
Corbett described the Tigers as “worthy premiers”.