GCA - All the talk about Swifts/Great Western forcing an outright win and challenging for the number one ranking in the Grampians Cricket Association A grade competition went out the door on Saturday afternoon when Aradale stepped up the the plate and delivered.
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On day two the indications were Aradale was in trouble with the Combine holding all the cards, but to their credit the Aradale batsmen turned it all around and suddenly put plenty of spark into this week's semi final clash.
Swifts Great Western did not have a big first innings score on the board, but they had Aradale reeling at 3/11 when play resumed on day two.
Things didn't improve any when one of the not out batsmen Mitch Cronin (6) was caught behind and Aradale were suddenly 4/28.
Travis Horvatek was joined by Matt Stasse and these two set about re-building the Aradale innings.
When Stasse fell for 29 runs with the score at 5/74, Aradale were back in the game.
Horvatek was joined by allrounder Jon Towsend and suddenly Aradale were in control. Horvatek took his score to 53 before he was bowled by Jackson Dark and Aradale were 6/123 and closing in on a first innings victory.
Any hopes the Combine had of cleaning up the remainder of the Aradale innings were shot when Townsend and young paceman John Butler (25) continued the run spree.
Townsend was the backbone of the win with his innings of 71 runs which included seven fours. When he was bowled by Tim Eckel, Aradale had the result wrapped up to be 9/216 before finally being dismissed for a winning total of 234 runs.
Top team Tatyoon had all the answers with the bat in their clash with fellow finals contender Buangor.
Chasing the Buangor first innings score of 158, Tatyoon had lost two early wickets. Having Tatyoon 5/114, Buangor were still in with a chance early on day two, but then the McDougall brothers Andy and Tim took control.
These two wrapped up the result for Tatyoon with Andy McDougall finishing on 61 runs and Tim McDougall 70 runs to see the Taytoon score reach 8/222.
Harry Ganley was the best of the Buangor bowlers with his 4/63.
These two teams will also clash again in this weekend's semi final.
Youth Club ended its season the way it started, with another below average performance and they now appear headed for B grade next season.
Chasing Pomonal's first innings score of 207 Youth Club were never a chance.
At 3/3 with both openers failing to trouble the scorers,Youth Club were in big trouble.
Youngster Ethan Marrow (25) attempted to steer Youth Club out of trouble, while Jamie Soylom (76) did put a little respect into the Youth Club innings of 142 runs.
A total of five Youth Club batmen failed to score.
Lee Oliver 3/30 and Matt Grinham 3/33 were the best of the dominant Pomonal bowlers.
