BOMADERRY Cricket Club has claimed the first grade cricket crown against Nowra, despite the determined efforts of their visitors.
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Held at Bomaderry Oval the hosts finished the game at 6/95, therefore claiming the victory on first innings.
Player of the match and Bomaderry skipper Jordan Matthews was over the moon that his team could secure the club's 21st first grade crown.
“I’m really proud of all the boys, because I know how much hard work they have all out in throughout the season,” Matthews said.
“We had to dig deep in this match as Nowra came to play right from the outset.
“Winning the trophy was the perfect way to end the season.”
Nowra won the toss and elected to bat first on the unpredictable Bomaderry pitch.
Bomaderry didn’t have to wait long for success with the ball, as both openers Jordan Matthews and Stu Jeffrey had a scalp early on.
Ben Lahene (9) was the first to go before Kurt Quinlan (0) quickly followed as Nowra fell to be 2/10.
Bomaderry’s bowlers maintained the pressure, which saw Nowra crumble to be 7/54.
Only a late fightback from Nowra’s lower order Michael Coulter (28), Scott Fagerlund (14no) and Justin Weller (12), saw Nowra post a competitive total of 109.
Matthews ended with figures of 5/32 from his 17 overs, while Jeffrey claimed 4/41.
In response, Bomaderry’s innings didn’t get off to the best start as openers Blake Munilla (7) and Tom Walters (0) were dismissed cheaply.
A strong partnership from Paul Sawkins and Travis Roth put Bomaderry back on the front foot, before Roth was dismissed for 31.
Roth’s wicket led to a small collapse where Jarryd Sue and Zac Blattner were dismissed quickly, leaving Bomaderry sitting precariously at 5/58.
Nick Jennings and Sawkins saw out day one, with the match evenly poised at 5/60.
Resuming on the morning of day two, Bomaderry needed a further 50 runs to claim the first innings.
It looked inevitable that Bomaderry would pass that mark with ease, with Jennings and Sawkins at the crease.
But when Jennings hauled out off the bowling of Rohan Hutchinson for 24, it triggered another collapse.
Jordan Matthews, Breandan Hiriart and John Muggleton fell in quick succession, leaving the match in the balance at 9/95.
Nowra’s bowlers threw everything they had at Sawkins and Stu Jeffrey in attempt of claiming the decisive last wicket.
But Bomaderry would just better their opponents total, before Sawkins was caght leg-before-wicket for 33, off the bowling of Nowra skipper Michael Coulter.
Coulter ended with figures of 5/26, while Justin Weller chipped in a handy 3/52.
When Nowra returned to the crease, they knew they had to score runs quickly, to give themselves a chance of winning the match.
On the back of a quick fire 57 from Ben Lahene, Nowra scored 138 runs off just 25 overs at the crease.
Apart from Lahene, only Justin Weller (12) and Michael Coulter (18) troubled the bowlers.
Bomaderry skipper Jordan Matthews continued his strong performance with the ball, claiming 5/52.
That took Matthews' total to 20 wickets in two weeks of finals cricket.
John Muggleton helped clean up the tail with a tidy 3/10 from his three overs.
The task was now simple for Bomaderry, see out he day at the crease and be crowned first grade champions.
They could also win the match by scoring 136 runs but it was evident from the outset that they wanted to play defensive and remain at the crease.
Bomaderry ended the day at 6/97, with Jordan Matthews and Paul Sawkins seeing out the day, to secure the victory.