Sport
27 December, 2025
BEST OF 2025: GDCA finals series in 2024/2025 an open race as four teams becomes three
First published March 7, 2025. Biddon-Tooraweenah is through to its first Bendigo Bank ABC Shield grand final in six seasons after a thrilling nine-run qualifying win against Curban at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra on Saturday, March 1.
Biddon-Tooraweenah (8-112 off 45 overs) was able to bowl Curban out for 103 (33.5 overs) in an entertaining Gilgandra District Cricket Association contest.
With Town Services defeating Gidgee in Sunday’s elimination final, it means Curban and Town Services will meet in the preliminary final on Saturday, March 8.
The winner of that clash will face Biddon-Tooraweenah in the big one a week later.
Biddon-Tooraweenah captain Jaimie Zell said it was a great feeling to be in a decider again after Biddon-Tooraweenah was 0-5 chasing Gidgee’s total of 94 in the 2023/2024 preliminary final when rain washed-out play.
Gidgee, as the highest-ranked side, progressed to last season’s decider.
“After the disappointment of being eliminated due to a washout in the final last year, it is great to be the first team into this season’s decider,” Zell said.
Biddon-Tooraweenah last played in a grand final in 2018/2019, when they defeated USC-Marthaguy to be crowned premiers.
In the 2024/2025 GDCA qualifying final, Biddon-Tooraweenah won the toss and elected to bat and Lachlan Ferguson top-scored with a well-made 41.
The opener shared partnerships of 26 for the opening wicket with Will Lambell (10) and then 34 for the second wicket with Zell (16).
Curban skipper Scott Chandler (4-19 off nine overs) returned the best figures while Jasen Starr took 2-28 from his nine overs.
Greg Younghusband (1-14 off eight overs) and Kane Younghusband (0-9 off nine overs) were also economical for Curban.
Reports indicated the McGrane Oval pitch had variable bounce particularly at the northern end.
Combined with a slow outfield, it meant batters had to work hard for their runs. However, Zell admitted that he felt Biddon-Tooraweenah was “a shade under par” with 8-112 as the side was targeting 140.
Curban captain Scott Chandler felt Ferguson’s patient innings was a very good one in the context of the match.
He also added his side bowled and fielded well to contain Biddon-Toora to 8-112 but fell short with bat. Zell added Lachlan Ferguson is capable of playing long knocks like Saturday’s 38-over effort. “Every week Lachy sets himself to bat a long time,” Zell said.
“He has a solid defence and was just picking up the tempo nicely when he holed out in the deep to the safe hands of Luke Jenkin who took three catches for Curban.”
Zell added the Curban bowlers: “Gave nothing away, keeping the bowling full and straight not giving the Biddon-Tooraweenah batsmen many freebies.”
Curban also started with caution.
After being 2-26 after 10 overs, Curban was 5-48 after 20 overs as Paul Lambell (2-11) and Clint Walker (2-28) bowled well unchanged for Biddon-Tooraweenah while Oscar Spora (1-21 off four overs) was the other early wicket-taker.
Greg Younghusband (30) and Isaac Mills (16) added 38 runs for the fifth wicket to get Curban back into the contest, but when Biddon-Tooraweenah’s Luke Harrison (5-12 off 3.5 overs) trapped Mills leg before wicket, the match turned again.
Harrison was able to sensationally knock over the lower-order in a brilliant spell as Curban was bowled for 103 with more than 11 overs still left to bat had wickets remained intact.
Zell said Harrison bowls with good control forcing opposition players to take risks to score runs. He targets the off stump regularly, frustrating batters into false shots.
Paul Lambell and Clint Walker both delivered their nine respective overs straight, which Zell said was a huge effort in Saturday’s heat.
“Lambell has the ability to swing the ball both ways, which keeps batsmen on their toes, whilst Walker was unlucky not to take more wickets with a few chances going down off his bowling, (Walker) was getting early outswing with the new ball,” Zell said.
Kane Younghusband (19) was solid early on with the bat for Curban.
Zell also felt Greg Younghusband batted well and looked to take the fielders on with quick singles to keep the score ticking over and that Isaac Mills offered good support.
Zell added Biddon-Tooraweenah’s fielding performance was completely below par with at least eight catches put down. He believes his side’s fielding will have to lift considerably to be a threat in the decider.
