WINGHAM and United will clash in this weekend's Manning first grade cricket grand final.
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This follows Wingham's upset win over Old Bar in the final played at Old Bar.
Wingham won the toss and sent Old Bar into bat on a wet wicket that would make stroke play difficult. This proved to be a strategic decision for Wingham as Old Bar were all out for 74 in 38.2 overs in just over two and half hours of play.
Michael Rees and Tim Rees opened the batting. Tim Rees appearance was brief as he was soon caught behind by wicket keeper Brock Hynes off Daine Williams for 4. Michael Rees (13) followed suit with a solid catch by Jackson Mullen off Ryan Williams. Mark Burgess and Ben Cole were at the crease and Williams struck again, having Burgess caught behind for 4. Cole endeavoured to steady the ship and get Old Bar back on track, as he added runs one by one. This approach would see him end up being the last wicket to fall. Cole was next partnered by Jamie Hartland who was caught by Jesse Newman for 14 off Michael Stinson. Stinson very quickly claimed his second wicket when he bowled Dave Rees without troubling the scorer.
Coleman joined Cole for a short time until he was stumped by Hynes off Brad Staff for 4. Alex Studdart added six to the score and was then sent back to the change room after a brilliant caught and bowled by Staff. Hynes struck again when he had the next batsman caught behind off Daine Williams without adding to the score. Hynes had a spectacular game, demonstrating some very agile wicket keeping skills that resulted in three catches and one stumping. Brendan Fuller joined Cole but in a mix up was run out. Brock Stewart briefly joined Cole at the crease, before Cole finally fell after bowled by Daine Williams for 23.
Daine Williams took 3/21 for Wingham from 12.2, Staff 2/8 (6); Stinson 2/12 (6); Ryan Williams 2/14 (6) and Jonathon Craig-Dobson 0/14 (7).
Jackson and Jake Mullen opened the batting for Wingham. Jackson Mullen was removed by Dave Rees and this brought Ryan Williams to the crease. Mullen and Williams put on a good partnership of 47 before Mullen was trapped in front by Tim Rees for a well-earned 21. Daine joined his brother at the crease and they took to the Old Bar bowlers, quickly passing the Old Bar total. In the second mix up of the day Ryan was run out for a solid 24. Daine Williams was bowled by Michael Rees for 37. With four minutes of play left Brock Hynes and Jonathon Craig-Dobson batted out the last overs. At the end of day one Wingham was 4/92.
Day two started with a very concerted attack from the Old Bar bowlers who were hoping to get Wingham out cheaply in an attempt for an outright victory. Wingham, on the other hand needed to stay in bat. Craig-Dobson and Hynes did their duty until Craig-Dobson was caught by Brendan Fuller off Tim Rees for 3. This started a mini collapse as Staff and Stinson went quickly and the score was 7/103. Matthew Essery went into bat and with Hynes added 30 before Hynes (15) was caught behind by Bevan Coleman off David Rees. Essery fell to David Rees for 28 and Wingham were all out for 145. The Rees brothers shared the wickets with David taking 3/20 (14.2), Michael 3/28 (12) and Tim 2/26 (9).
Old Bar began their second innings with Wingham holding a lead of 71.
Old Bar changed their batting line up in the hope of gaining quick runs off big hitters but this would prove to be costly. Michael Rees and Coleman opened the batting and Rees was gone first ball after an absolutely brilliant catch from Jackson Mullen off Daine Williams.
Williams was impressive and he soon had Coleman caught by Matt Essery for 2. Alex Studdart and Jamie Hartland were at the crease and Studdart added nine to the score before he was plumb LBW off Ryan Williams and the score was 3/14. David Rees joined Hartland and the pair conservatively added runs until Daine Williams bowled David Rees for 15. Staff, who had a five wicket haul, had Hartland out for 18 after a one handed gem of a catch from Stinson and in the same over Staff clean bowled Burgess.
The score was now 6/52 with Old Bar in real trouble.
Tim Rees and Ben Cole were now at the crease and any hope of resurrecting the innings was dashed when Rees was bowled by Staff for 10. The next three wickets fell cheaply- Thompson (1) bowled by Essery; Fuller (1) stumped Hynes off Staff and Brock Stuart caught Jesse Newman off Staff. Old Bar were all out for 63. Brad Staff finished with the great figures of 5/9 from 3.2 overs while Daine Williams took 3/21 (4.2); Matthew Essery 1/11 (3) and Ryan Williams 1/20 (3).
Wingham claimed an outright win by an innings and eight.