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BEECHWORTH A grade side’s season has come to an end after falling 73 runs short in their semi-final against Wangaratta Magpies last weekend.
The Wanderers’ batting was overwhelmed by a supreme bowling display from Wangaratta on Sunday, rolling through Beechworth for 80 in just 40 overs, defending 153.
After winning the toss and batting on a beautiful autumn weekend at Wangaratta Showgrounds, disaster struck for the ‘Pies on the second ball, when Matt Ryan found the edge of Dean Simmons into the waiting hands of Brenton Surrey in the slips.
Captain Cooper Matheson would come in and be the aggressor, playing his shots while Jarryd Wallace played the anchor role.
Matheson would bring up his half century at a run a ball in style, whipping Jack Ryan for a six over the square leg boundary.
Matheson would go for 66 and at 4/83, the Magpies needed a partnership to form, with Ollie Andrew and Kyle Winter-Irving battling away in the middle.
The Magpies would go on to make 153 as Kayde Surrey (4/22) and Matt Ryan (3/43) did the damage to keep Beechworth in the game going into day two.
It took just three overs for the Magpies to strike on Sunday, with Ollie Andrew catching the edge of Clancy Ellett to Matheson in the slips.
The experienced Wanderers Brenton and Kayde Surrey were at the crease, determined to outlast the tight line and length the Magpies were producing.
Fraser Ellis would enter the fray, removing Kayde Surrey LBW to see the Wanderers in trouble at 3/28 after 16 overs.
The pressure would get to Brenton Surrey after overs of tight bowling, slashing at a fuller delivery and edging it to the gloves of Jack Davies, Andrew picking up his third.
From 4/42, Beechworth lost two wickets in quick succession, Austen Fendyk trapped LBW to Ellis and Jack Ryan caught in the deep off Andrew, 6/49 after 27 overs.
Matt Ryan and Cam Fendyk worked into a nice partnership, but Ellis would get one to bounce more than Ryan expected, catching the shoulder of the bat and into the gloves of the leaping Davies.
Fendyk would work hard to try and keep his side in the contest, but Ellis would have the final say with the Wanderers sitting on 80 runs.
Ellis finished with figures of 5/23 from 17 overs, and Ollie Andrew finishing with 4/18 from 14 overs.
Meanwhile C grade have made a second successive grand final after a semi-final rout of Greta at Stanley.
The Wanderers made 5/198 in their 36 overs guided by Ryan Niklaus (66) and Brendon Thompson (44).
Following some resistance at the top of the order, it was all smooth sailing for Beechworth as they bowled Greta out for just 54.
Kane Niklaus would take 4/18 while Darby West (2/14) and Hamish Malsem (2/7) were all over the Greta batting order.
The unbeaten Stanley team will go for the perfect season as they take on Yarrawonga Mulwala in the grand final at North Wangaratta this Saturday from 1:30pm.





