NYAH District have stunned the cricketing community by narrowly beating defending premiers RSL in yesterday’s Swan Hill and District Cricket Association grand final.
RSL needed 122 to win by the match but were bowled all out for 117 runs late on Sunday, handing the demons the trophy for the first time in three years.
More than 150 people gathered to watch the thrilling decider with RSL’s final batting partnership nearly lifting the side from the ashes and to a second premiership.
Despite the scare, Nyah District bowler Joel Walsh eventually managed to secure the win for his side with an eight-wicket-haul, earning himself man-of-the-match honours as well.
The unlikely premiers finished in fourth place and beat minor premiers St Mary’s Tyntynder last week for their shot at glory.
Nyah District captain Dean Harrop said his side’s premiership rested on the shoulders of one man.
“Our bowling form today was incredible, Joel Walsh single handily won us the game,” he said.
“We are stoked. especially in such a close grand final and at the end I didn’t know if we were going to lose or win but I am happy for all the boys, such a young side and we played well.
“We were stoked from last week’s win and we knew they were going to be tough … they bowled us out for 121, pthey are a good side.”
Shattered RSL captain Ryan Hinton said his side did well to get close in the end but was disappointed with their start.
“Being that close it is hard to take. Even though we weren’t in form to even be that close, it was a massive effort to get within four runs,” he said.
“Our middle order collapsed and Joel Walsh bowled really well and that was the difference in the end.
“We always knew it would be hard and we had to build partnerships and we didn’t do that … it just made it hard.”
On the first day it was Nyah District who would bat first after winning the toss.
With a slow outfield to contend with, Hinton placed his fielders at the feet of the Nyah District batsmen to cut off their attempt at quick singles and starve off their run scoring ability.
It was working for last year’s champions as Nyah District collapsed to 5/40 at one stage in the game with a grim feeling for the underdogs.
As the top order continued to fall for less than 10 runs each, number six Kent Wooding went out of his way to change the match for Nyah District.
He would go on to score 46 runs, with two boundaries included, giving his lower order confidence as they built their run rate.
The innings would eventually finish with RSL knocking Nyah District off for 121 runs after 68.3 overs.
Coming into the middle, RSL faced 11 overs before the end of the day to score 1/26.
