Brendan Daley held the crease for a 79-run haul, helping the Merimbula Knights claim victory in Saturday’s grand final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Taking on the competition favourite Tathra Sea Eagles, the Knights dominated at the crease to belt 221 runs in their 40 overs and claim their first A grade premiership in 58 years.
Daley hit his stunning effort with a combination of placement and drives.
The hosts won the toss and sent the Knights to the crease, but quickly regretted their decision as Merimbula went to town on the scoreboard.
Tathra had a hopeful start, returning Jeremy Fernando to the sheds early off a diving catch by Tathra captain Adam Blacka.
However, that was where the joy ended for the hosts as Brendan Daley began piling on runs in a strong partnership with Dylan Jordan and later, Matt Heafield.
Daley built up a fantastic stand of 79 runs, while Jordan added 17 and a valuable 25 from Heafield to put the Knights past 100 by the third wicket.
When Daley was dismissed the Merimbula club was rounding 160.
A couple of quick wickets gave some renewed hope, but the Knights stayed valiant and built up more runs.
Ash Postance had a strong knock of 39, while James Heafield chimed in another 17 runs and the Knights wrapped up their innings on 8/221.
Blacka was the pick of the bowlers with 2/32 off his eight overs including a pair of maidens.
The Sea Eagles couldn’t find traction with the bat as the Merimbula bowling attack wreaked havoc.
Geordie Gibbs opened and laid a foundation of 20 runs, while fellow opener Chris Dwyer was caught out for a duck.
Craig Nicholson gave the hosts a glimmer of hope with a solid knock of 45 runs, but the order began to tumble once he was dismissed.
Matt O’Reilly then went out for a duck off another catch before Cody Hazelgrove-Danvers was dismissed for 10.
Pete Bennett, Blacka and Jack Matthews all then went out for just a single run as the Tathra order all but collapsed.
Matt Priem was knocked for some runs, but claimed wickets taking figures of 4/41. Credit also went to Graham Briggs and Dylan Jordan who both took two wickets apiece.