David Braithwaite
AN unbeaten half-century from Jim Reeves steered Maffra to a thrilling victory over Heyfield in the Sale-Maffra Cricket Association second grade grand final.
The match at the Catholic College Oval concluded on Saturday after the first day the previous weekend was washed out.
The match was evenly-poised with the Eagles resuming at 5-64 in reply to the Kangaroos’ 134.
Corey Sullivan struck the first blow for Heyfield, claiming the wicket of Hamish Nettleton for 14, with the Eagles having added 19 runs.
The Kangaroos found it harder to dismiss the other resuming batsman, Reeves.
With the score on 93, Sullivan claimed his third wicket, bowling Chris Francis for a duck.
Reeves and Kris Armistead moved the scored along until the latter was out leg before wicket to Tyson Birss for nine.
With Alex Kuizenga in the middle, Reeves did the bulk of the scoring.
When Kuizenga was caught off Peter Berryman’s bowling for one, the Eagles were 9-132, still three runs shot of victory.
Reeves hit the winning runs, to finish on 53 not out. The Eagles ended Heyfield’s hopes of back-to-back premierships and extracted some revenge for losing last year’s grand final.
Sullivan claimed 3-33 for the Kangaroos and Berryman 3-43.
