Youth Club is the Grampians Cricket Association under-16 premier after it defeated Pomonal by seven runs in the grand final in Stawell on Sunday.
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Youth Club won the toss and chose to bowl first and it paid off early on.
Pomonal struggled on the turf wicket, losing its first wicket with nine runs on the board.
Three of the top five batsmen made it to double figures but none of them was able to push on and make a match-winning innings.
Bailey Hoseman was the top-scorer with 13, as the Pomonal middle order provided some resistance to the Youth Club bowlers.
When Hoseman was dismissed, it left the visitors at 4-43 and never really recovered as the Clubbers bowled them out for 89 in the 40th over.
Aiden Graveson was the best of the Youth Club bowlers finishing with 4-18 from his 4.4 overs.
Youth Club got off to a quick start with both Clubbers’ openers looking to be aggressive against the Pomonal bowlers.
Graveson and Bailey Taylor combined for an 80-run opening partnership.
Taylor got himself to 50 and was forced to retire which prompted a mini collapse for the Clubbers.
Pomonal picked up two quick wickets while only conceding six runs but the damage had already been done, as Youth Club passed the target with eight wickets in hand in the 28th over.
Clubbers coach Brody Stewart said the team needed early wickets.
“We knew they had some talent at the top order and we needed to put pressure on them early,” he said.
“We fielded the best we have all season as well which helped to build the pressure during the innings.
“I said to them the top batsmen would have experience on turf and were happy to let the ball go through.
Stewart said he discussed the decision before the toss but left the final call up to Taylor to decided what he wanted to do.
“We thought the wicket was not going to be too bad, but I wanted to let Bailey make the choice,” he said.
The early innings dominance allowed some of the lower order batsmen to move up the order and get a chance to make some runs in the final.
Stewart said it was important for some of the younger players to feel involved in the win.
“I felt very comfortable when Taylor retired, we were in a strong position which mean we could let others have a bat,” he said.
Youth Club’s Graveson and Bailey were the two standouts from the match.
Graveson finished the match with four wickets and 25 runs while Bailey got two wickets along with his 50 runs to lead the Clubbers to victory.
Stewart said the pair did not surprise him.
“I expected that performance from them,” he said.
