Tatyoon batsman Ash Maconachie plays a text book cover drive during the GCA A grade grand fi nal against Swifts/Great Western. For more pictures and full results see Friday’s Ararat Advertiser. Picture: MARK MCMILLAN
GCA - Following two thrilling days, the A grade Grampians Cricket Association grand final was forced into a third day with Tatyoon holding the upper hand against Swifts/Great Western at Central Park.
Yesterday saw Tatyoon back at the crease after having already secured first innings points, with Swifts/Great Western bowlers looking for the early breakthrough.
Swifts/Great Western had Tatyoon on the ropes at lunch on day one.
Taty's top order batsmen crumbled with Lachlan Laidlaw and Andrew Ward both failing to make runs.
Andrew McDougall (7) and Jarrod Blandford (12) didn't fare much better, with Marc Brilliant and Jamie Bach doing the damage early as Tatyoon slumped to 6/49.
It was left to Tatyoon's lower order batsmen to pick up the pieces.
Enter Ashley Maconachie and Tim McDougall - the pair put on a potential premiership-saving 191 run stand, notching up centuries in the process.
Michael Harricks added another 26 runs to Tatyoon's first innings' score before the team was eventually removed for 301.
On what turned out to be a tough day for Combine bowlers, Bach finished the innings with four wickets and Jackson Dark claimed three.
Swifts/Great Western opening batsman Sam Cocks exacted his revenge against Tatyoon's bowlers on day two of play.
After a luckless run, Cocks found some much needed form and blasted his way to 123 runs, including 18 boundaries and two sixes.
He received much needed support from veterans Rick Peters and Travis Nicholson (26).
Once Peters was removed for 56, Tatyoon's Andrew McDougall ripped through the Combine's lower order to finish their innings abruptly on a score of 296.
Swifts/Great Western appear to be in the box seat in the B grade grand final against Navarre.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Swifts/Great Western got off to a flying start with Phil Hutton leading the way.
Hutton made 79 runs before being run out while Tom Eckel (22) and Craig Marrow (20) contributed to the Combine's first innings score of 204.
Alexander Rodgers was Navarre's leading wicket taker with three, while Aaron Slorach performed well claiming 2/8.
In reply, Navarre got off to a cautious start with Lachlan Slorach (25) and Alex Rodgers (28) the best of the top order.
Aaron Slorach was the side's top run scorer, working his way to 39 runs before being caught out.
Gary Hannett and Daniel Leehane added a combined 27 runs as Navarre's day ended at 8/179.
At the time of print, matches were locked at one-all in the C grade grand final between Chalambar and Willaura.
In grand final (1), 83 runs to Aaron Jenkins helped set up a Chalambar victory.
David Quaife (19) and Luke Walker (18) chipped in as Chaly posted a score of 189.
Willaura struggled in reply, with Chalambar's Sam Brown (4/21) leading the bowling charge to end their innings on 89.
Grand final (2) on Sunday saw Willaura bounce back with Craig Richards (3/30) and Thomas Thewlis (2/21) combining to remove Chaly for 137.
Thewlis then put on a 77-run stand with Bryce Evans, while Adam Gellert (31) and Nick Brain (24) also performed solidly with Willaura finishing the day at 7/166.
See Friday's Ararat Advertiser for full grand final results.