THE two best teams in the competition will play off in the South East Cricket Association’s Longmuir Shield grand final at Hurlingham Park.
Bentleigh Uniting will start favourite after a comfortable win over East Sandringham in the second semi-final.
The reigning premiers have few deficiencies and are solid in every aspect of the game. They have young but experienced openers Backman and Brisbane, three super talented all-rounders in Russell, Manders and Britt, a top shelf middle-order with captain Glenn Lalor and Simon Richards and a nicely varied and accurate bowling attack headed by veteran left armer Simon Surridge.
Surridge may have dropped a bit of speed in recent years but he’s got craftier.
Opening bowler Luke Cody has missed several matches with injury and may not get to the line but Callum Cathcart has filled his role capably.
Uniting is a brilliant fielding unit. Its Achilles heel might be the lower-order batting, which is an unknown quantity as it is virtually untested.
East Sandringham has a vaunted batting line-up with Dallas, Mark Devereaux, Martyn, Corp, Gibb and Duddy all capable of big scores.
Keeper Brett Hampton is their X-factor with the bat and they have good batting depth. Their fielding is also particularly strong and their bowling attack is workmanlike rather than spectacular.
Jayme Saleem is their spearhead and Dallas their only full-time spin option, Pat Singh is a finals specialist and they have a number of medium-pace options with Caillin Austin along with Singh their workhorse but there is a certain sameness to East’s bowling that Uniting will try to exploit.
The toss will be important with both teams likely to be keen to have first turn at the crease.
The Longmuir Shield grand final is being played this weekend on Saturday and Sunday at Hurlingham Park and will be broadcast on community radio station 88.3 Southern FM southernfm.com.au
SECA GRAND FINALS
Longmuir: Bentleigh Uniting v East Sandringham at Hurlingham Park.
Woolnough: West Bentleigh v Bentleigh Uniting at Mackie Reserve.
Quiney: Melbourne Wanderers v Cheltenham Park at Mackie Reserve.
D Grade: Southside East Caulfield v Hampton Central at East Caulfield.
E Grade: Mackie v Brighton District at Bailey Park.
F Grade: East Sandringham v Emerald Hill at Chisholm Reserve.
G Grade: Aspendale v Brighton Union at Glen St Oval.
H Grade: Aspendale v Washington Park at Highett West.
I Grade: Bentleigh Uniting v Hampton Central at Centenary Park. J Grade: Cluden v Emerald Hill at William St Reserve.
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