After suffering a crushing loss to Murray Valley in the opening round of the series GM fought back to win its three remaining preliminary games before demolishing the previously unbeaten reigning titleholder MV in a reduced overs final at Bendigo’s famous Queen Elizabeth Oval last Friday.
It was the third successive final in which these two sides had met, with GM winning the first and MV triumphant last year.
The final became a 35-overs game with an early start due to the scorching weather.
The GM bowlers struck early with Echuca quick Matt Hinks, who captained the side, claiming the prize wicket of South African run-making machine Win Van Zyl for a duck to get a huge mental edge for his team after MV had won the toss and elected to bat.
Van Zyl had made three half centuries earlier in the week.
Rochester import Vibhor Yadav took the bowling honours for GM with 3/30 off seven overs while Darcy Elliott, who opened the bowling with Hinks, picked up 2/23 off seven overs.
MV finally posted a competitive 8/166 but in reply, with opener Shaw and Coombs stepping up, GM cruised to 3/172 with 4.5 overs to spare to claim the title.
Shaw opened the innings and carried his bat for a magnificent 69 off 71 balls with six fours and a six.
Shaw was involved in a matchwinning third wicket stand of 111 with Coombs, who made a dominant 62 off 70 balls that included five fours and two sixes.
‘‘We really developed as a team over the week as we learnt each others games,’’ Hinks said, summing up the triumph.
‘‘The way we grew as a team was really pleasing, especially after losing the first day.’’
It was a top fightback from GM to take the title after its heavy first round loss to MV.
The comeback started in Tuesday’s game against Castlemaine, with Shaw prominent again with both bat and ball.
He claimed 3/18 and the bowling honours before making 47 in a big opening partnership with stylish BLU Scottish import Josh Woods (54) to engineer a 158-run win.
Matt Hinks with 38, Rochester’s Dylan Cuttriss (34) and Moama’s Matthew Hindson (34) helped swell the GM total to an impressive 312 in this game.
■ In Wednesday’s showdown against Gisborne, who compiled 212, the impressive Josh Wood with 63 off 64 balls, Matt Hinks with 62 and Daniel Coombs with 33 got GM over the line.
■ Moama’s Alister McCann with an unbeaten 55 and veteran Kirk Teasdale with 65 helped GM to a handy 250-run total on day four against Emu Valley, who replied with 9/196.
McCann had another good day, taking 3/29 for GM, which booked its spot in the final with its win.
