Sport
24 March, 2025
Town Services laments drop of early momentum as Biddon-Toora survive late scare to win shield
“After a lean period around two to three years ago we have been able to re-build and bring together a good side. We’re in a good place.”
While still confident they could defend 140 runs, Town Services skipper Ashley Hazelton conceded his side let go of some early momentum in Saturday’s Bendigo Bank ABC Shield grand final at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra as Biddon-Tooraweenah secured a three-wicket win.
Town Services scored 4-107 off its first 30 overs (after being 2-106 after 28 overs), while Biddon-Toor-aweenah was 2-100 at the same point in its innings on Saturday, March 15.
Both teams had late-order collapses, but in the end Biddon-Tooraweenah (7-142 in 39.4 overs) was able to surpass Town Services’ 140 all out (41.2 overs).
A defining part of the memorable contest was Town Services losing 8-34 in 13.2 overs after winning the toss, batting first and getting off to a solid start in this season’s Gilgandra District Cricket Association (GDCA) decider.
That moderate total was still enough if Town Services bowled and fielded well, but their first innings score had the potential to place immeasurable scoreboard pressure on Biddon-Tooraweenah.
Hazelton (39) and Scott Basham (20) added 50 runs in 15.3 overs for Town Services’ opening wicket. Haze-lton knew losing Basham just after the first drinks break and himself also getting out to a great Zac Ferguson catch at deep backward square leg when set wasn’t ideal, but he also felt a base had been set for his side to post around 165.
And despite those two wickets, Christopher Sem-mler (31) continued Town Services’ momentum with an important knock skipper Hazelton said was a quality contribution as he dominated a 35-run third-wicket partnership with Alex Sutherland (nine). But once they both fell, Dustin Foran’s 11 was the only double figure score.
It was the change bowlers that did the most damage for Biddon-Tooraweenah with Jeremy Cosier taking 3-15 off five overs and Harrison claiming 3-26 from nine overs. Jon Kilby was economical with 2-18 off 7.2 overs and struck in his second spell while Paul Lambell (1-26 off nine overs) also did a good job and Oscar Spora (1-15 off two overs) took the key wicket of Ashley Hazelton. Will Lambell also took three catches for Biddon-Tooraweenah. “If you’d have offered us 140 on Friday, we’d have taken it,” Ashley Hazelton said.
“We did start reasonably well and got ourselves into positions twice where we should have got another 20 to 25 runs.
“We needed to bat out the 45 overs and we didn’t (being dismissed in 41.2 overs). “That said, I still tho-ught 140 was enough given how well we had been bowling and fielding.” Biddon-Toora captain and player of the grand final Jaimie Zell, who scored an important 40 in the successful run-chase, said the slow-medium bowling of Cosier and Harrison was crucial.
“We were looking at chasing 180 at one stage,” Zell said. “Jeremy and Luke are just able to do a job when we need them too in the late overs. They took wickets and made it hard for Town Services to score. All of our bowling attack bowled well. It was a big advantage (for Town Services to win the toss and bat first) … but we just kept at it.”
Ashley Hazelton said Town Services bowled too short at times and missed some chances in the field, including handing Biddon-Tooraweenah opener Lachlan Ferguson (29) an early opportunity he took advantage of.
Biddon-Tooraweenah believed if they could occupy the crease and build partnerships early, the score was achievable. They did so to set up the win.
Zell said Lachlan Ferguson’s 29 was vital.
Lachlan Ferguson added 26 for the opening partnership with Will Lambell (15) and then a crucial 51 runs for the second wicket with Zell.
However, Town Services never gave up and Isaac Grimshaw grabbed a brilliant reflex catch low to the ground at mid-wicket to remove a set Ferguson off Alex Sutherland’s (1-31) bowling to make it 2-77. It was one of two catches from Grimshaw.
Zell and Harrison (18) then put on 28 runs for the third wicket, with Biddon-Tooraweenah looking in control at 2-105 in the 32nd over.
“We knew if we were patient and worked the ball around and didn’t lose early wickets we could get the score,” Zell, who scored 40 as player of the final, said.
“We didn’t have to rush and kept a pretty solid rate for the first 30 overs (scoring 100 runs at 3.33 runs per over).”
Adam Hazelton, who took 1-26 off nine overs before taking over the gloves from brother Ashley who was required to bowl, claimed a stumping off a Mark Temple (3-35) delivery to remove Zell.
Town Services’ Dustin Foran also took a smart outfield catch to remove Jon Kilby (six) who had hit a maximum and was looking to get Biddon-Tooraweenah home swiftly.
Despite the Biddon-Tooraweenah late collapse of 5-20, they held on via Clint Walker (10 not out) and Spora (six not out).
“There was a lot of nervousness on the sidelines,” Zell said. “It was a funny time; we’d get some mini-momentum with a big shot and then lose another wicket.” Zell said his side has five or six players that have won plenty of GDCA premierships and another half that are just beginning their journeys as senior cricketers with a first title. “It’s a nice mix of players and very satisfying to win,” Zell said.
