Golden Point is the Ballarat Cricket Association first grade premiers.
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The Pointies delivered an outstanding season, not dropping a game, on its way to a nerve-racking two-wicket triumph over Mt Clear in the grand final.
What looked to be a certain Golden Point victory when Mt Clear were seven down on Saturday and only one run clear of the Pointies turned into a thriller.
After a 28-run opening stand in pursuit of 89, Golden Point then lost 8-39 as Nathan Yates stormed through the batting line-up, taking 6-25.
It was left to Matt Harris and Lachy Anderson to guide Golden Point to victory, and they did, putting on 22 runs, making 11 and 9 respectively.
The Pointies were, understandably, in no rush to track down the 89 runs set by Mt Clear, but as the wickets fell, the runs dried up.
But Harris and Anderson were clutch in their pursuit, picking the gaps that Golden Point had struggled to break all day.
As the final runs were hit, the relief and jubilation erupted out of the Pointies camp.
Golden Point captain Josh White was relieved to get over the line, admitting he thought the game was going to slip out of his side’s hands.
“I honestly thought we were going to lose, we didn’t play very well today, but I guess it doesn’t matter now, I’m really proud of my boys,” White said.
White said the intention was to always track down the runs, but once it struggled to tick the scoreboard over it failed to regather momentum. – and Mt Clear’s attack cannot be undersold, led by Nathan Yates with 6-25, 17 maidens from 25 overs.
“We just wanted to bat properly, (but) we got bogged down and we just didn’t rotate the strike and score. We played into their hands a little bit, but it was good to get the runs in the end.
“There were too many overs to try and bat the day out...we tried to make the runs, but they bowled tight.”
The performance of Andrew Warrick should not be overshadowed, the Pointies’ quick took 11-129 for the match.
After finishing the home and away season on top of the ladder, Golden Point stepped it up a gear in the finals.
A dominant semi-final display against North Ballarat saw it post 302 with the bat and roll the Roosters for 125.
While the grand final saw Golden Point in control from the open 90 minutes when it had Mt Clear reeling at 5-30.
It eventually took a 72-run lead into Saturday’s day three, locking away first innings points.
Once again the Mounties found themselves in trouble 7-73, but the tail fought hard to find a way to post 160 runs and develop an 88-run lead.
Skipper Darcy Thomson leading from the front with a hard-fought 40 from 137 balls.
Saturday’s hard work nearly allowed the Mounties to clinch an unlikely victory, but it fell devastatingly short.
Meanwhile, Golden Point’s second XI joined in the celebration, defeating Dunnstown by 54 runs.
Dunnstown sent the Pointies in to bat on Saturday and Andrew Falkner (25) and Bailey Van De Heuvel (25) ensured their side got off to a good start, posting a 51-run opening stand.
Colin Wakefield then continued on the momentum with his team-high 79 runs as Golden Point made 194, the tail showing little resistance.
Bailey Van De Heuvel, as he did in the semi-final, took five wickets to lead the attack and ultimately his side to victory.
Golden Point’s firsts, seconds and thirds all claiming the premiership – underlining the club’s depth.
In the one-day A grade, Ballarat Fire Brigade and Burrumbeet unbelievably tied its deciding third match.
Both teams ended its 40 overs on 8-170 and given it finished higher on the ladder, Ballarat Fire Brigade take home the flag in unusual circumstances.