Sport
16 March, 2024
Marthaguy secures grand final spot
Marthaguy hosted the major semi-final on Saturday, March 9 against Coonamble.
Bendigo Bank ABC Shield
By Doug Freeth
After wrapping up their second consecutive minor premiership following a forfeit from Gulargambone last week, Marthaguy hosted the major semi-final on Saturday, March 9 against Coonamble.
After losing the last three matches to Coonamble including the knockout semi-final last year, Marthaguy were keen to hit back against their new rivals. It was going to be a tough ask after only qualifying 16 eligible players. A few forfeits and washouts hindered multiple players reaching the required three games played to qualify. With five players unavailable there were no tough selection calls to be made and the team was set. Captain Andrew Freeth’s good fortune with the toss continued and Marthaguy batted first.
Coonamble openers bowled well, and runs were hard to score. In the fifth over, Mark Glasson fell to have Marthaguy 1/3. James Glasson joined Andrew at the crease, and they dug in, reaching 13 runs after 10 overs. With the change of bowlers, runs began to flow and by first drinks Marthaguy had moved to 1/33.
James and Andrew continued to score at ease until in the 20th over Andrew (20) was bowled with the score on 53. Marthaguy lost five more wickets in the next six overs with John McKay, Ritchie Flinn, Hugh Maunder and Doug Freeth all falling cheaply along with the big wicket of James Glasson (32) to have Marthaguy reeling at 7/66.
Some cautious batting by Hugh Duncan and Harry Gaynor stabilised the innings before the two began to punish the bad balls. The two put on 49 before Harry (13) fell with five overs to go. Mick George followed shortly after to have Marthaguy 9/116 with four overs to go.
Hugh Duncan worked the strike well and hit big late, ably assisted by Col Irving, to push the score to 133 before Hugh (53) fell in the last over. Marthaguy were all out for 133. A brilliant fightback anchored by Hugh after the mid order collapse.
As always Coonamble went hard early, taking six from the first two balls before danger man Mark Stewart edged one off Doug Freeth to the keeper. With Mark gone the scoring dropped, but some inconsistent bowling by Marthaguy openers allowed Coonamble to make it to the first drinks at 15 overs on a run-rate to win at 1/45.
Some better bowling by Hugh Duncan and James Glasson slowed the scoring dramatically before finally in the 22nd over with the score on 50, Hugh had Coonamble first drop caught for 24. Hugh picked up two more quick wickets in the next four overs to really bring the game back into the balance.
Coonamble skipper Tyne, who had rescued his team in the last two games against Marthaguy looked to hit his team out of trouble. He managed to take score to 76 before Harry Gaynor had him caught behind for 17. James Glasson picked up the other danger man in the next over and Marthaguy felt back on top with Coonamble 6/81.
Coonamble fought hard late and moved to 106 before a brilliant runout by Mark Glasson. Mark only had one stump to aim at and threw it down.
Coonamble batter Rob Heinrich was hitting big and had his team close to victory at 122 before he was trapped in front by Doug Freeth to set up a grandstand finish.
It came down to Coonamble needing just 12 runs and Marthaguy two wickets. Hugh Maudner picked up the ninth wicket with the score on 124.
A boundary by Coonamble got them within one shot of victory before Johny McKay bowled the final batter with score on 129, putting Marthaguy through to the grand final.
It was an inconsistent performance as a whole by Marthaguy, but some great individual performances with both bat and ball by Hugh Duncan and James Glasson shone through. Marthaguy now has a week off before the grand final in Gilgandra in two weeks.
