On a weekend of searing temperatures the SECA high grade preliminary finals and lower grade grand finals were played out as one day games as the SECA made the unprecedented decision to re-schedule matches to 9am on Sunday to beat the heat after Saturday’s play was abandoned due to heat rules.
In Longmuir Shield Bentleigh Uniting Cricket Club were sent in by Bentleigh ANA Cricket Club and the move quickly paid off for ANA. Uniting tried a left field move throwing dashing all-rounder Malin Silva to the top of the order but the gamble failed with Silva removed in the opening over and when Lukas Galanopoulos and Cal Cathcart were both dismissed via direct hit run outs Uniting were in shambles at 3/20.
Josh Bregazzi (34) burned brightly but briefly and Arryn Siposs, a late replacement for another former AFL star in Matthew Lloyd bagged (4/24) and with James McKay (3/23), ripped through the rest of the Lions line-up to dismiss them for a paltry 86.
ANA started well enough with Tyler Bishop playing steadily for 26 and A.K.Tyrone (20) looking dangerous as they reached 2/62 but then they suddenly lost 5/14 to crash to 7/76 as Nick Halliday (2/4) and Buddhika De Alwis (2/23) and then Silva grabbed a quick succession of wickets and there were some tense moments as James White (11*) and Siposs (6*) got them over the line at 7/87 and into the grand final to meet Le Page Park.
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