Skipper Matt Corben, burly all-rounder Josh Doherty, evergreen quick Chris Martin and up-and-coming tearaway Harry Pearce stole the show for Cavaliers at Wade Park last weekend, inspiring their side to an emphatic grand final win over CYMS.
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With the green and golds gunning for a third straight Orange District Cricket Association premiership, Corben and Doherty set Cavaliers up with crucial digs before Martin and Pearce ripped any chance of victory away from CYMS with the ball – all on the first day.
Corben (50) and Doherty (43) added a crucial 82 for the third wicket having come together at 2-17 as Cavaliers made 172, after winning the toss and batting.
Martin, who inevitably stands up in big games, and Pearce ripped through CYMS’ order as the shadows lengthened across Wade Park, reducing the green and golds to 8-83 overnight.
Pearce, crucially, also ran out 2014-15 and 2015-16 grand final hero Hugh Le Lievre (7) in the final over of the first day, in possibly the biggest moment of the game.
Martin (4-30) and Pearce (3-28) picked up one wicket each early on the second day to finish CYMS off for 100, before the maroons batted the green and golds out of the game to claim the Challenge Shield – the 99th time the trophy has been presented.
The 2016-17 title is Cavaliers’ 14th top grade crown since establishment and the maroons’ first since 2013-14.
“I’m so pleased with that, it was a great effort from the boys, we stood up in the big moments,” Corben, in his first season as skipper, said.
“Losing the last two grand finals to CYMS put a bit of aggro in us I think, gave us more motivation. Credit to CYMS, they were brilliant all season, they just couldn’t put it together this weekend.
We stood up in the big moments.
- Cavaliers skipper Matt Corben
“That happens, you have those days, we had one in last year’s grand final when we got rolled for 60-something. I’m glad it didn’t happen again for us.”
CYMS skipper Hamish Finlayson, who battled injury throughout the game, was gracious in defeat, conceding his side saved it’s worst for the big dance.
“Congratulations to Cavaliers, they thoroughly deserve the win and outplayed us this weekend,” Finlayson said.
“It’s disappointing but I don’t want to lose sight of what we have achieved over the last few years, winning two and making another grand final in three years, after winning nothing for 30-odd.
“The boys were great all season, we just couldn’t get the job done in the big one.”
CYMS took the upper hand early on day one after Chris Novak (3-28) and Al Dhatt (2-40) dismissed John Warrington (11) and Tom Aggett (3), respectively, to leave Cavaliers reeling at 2-17.
Corben and Doherty rebuilt the innings though, the maroons’ were 3-98 when the latter was run out from the boundary by Amit Balgi for 43.
Although Peter Gott was superb in taking 4-41, Cavaliers’ middle and lower order pushed the side’s score to 172 – more than competitive in a grand final.
It proved so, as CYMS slumped to 8-83 overnight.
The green and golds started well, Mick Hannelly (18) Matt Baker (15) adding 35 for the first wicket. But the second fell at 36 and it went downhill for CYMS from there, quickly.
The reigning champions lost 8-64 after that, limping to 100 – 72 behind.
From there, Warrington (35), Corben (23 not out) and Doherty (15 not out) batted CYMS out of the game, lasting 47 overs and finishing 2-87 when the two captains agreed to call it a day.
Corben, with a half-ton, one dismissal, an unbeaten second innings dig and superb captaincy throughout, was named player of the final for the second time. He also won the award in Cavaliers’ win over Orange City in 2013-14, the maroons’ last title.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
