Orange City have earned the chance to defend their Orange District Cricket Association Challenge Shield title, with delays for rain and bad light playing into the Warriors' hands and helping them close out a thrilling draw with CYMS in last weekend's preliminary final at Wade Park.
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Having finished second to CYMS' third the reigning champions only needed a draw to progress to next weekend's decider against Cavaliers and, after a middle-order mini-collapse, survived a handful of tense overs in the dying stages of Sunday's second day to force that result.
Chasing 241 for victory Warriors had been cruising at 3-188 before losing 3-1 to give the green and golds a sniff of an unlikely victory, although Craig Rogan and Andrew Gordon did steady the ship somewhat after that.
They pushed their Warriors to 6-211 when the game's final drinks break was taken but with rain falling and the light fading the players' return to the field was delayed for some time, stifling any momentum CYMS had and forcing stumps to be pushed back from 5.45pm to 6.30pm.
Effectively the Warriors were seven down with Harry McGregor nursing a wrist injury that would've stopped him from batting too, so when play resumed with 25 minutes left on the clock the clash remained firmly in the balance.
Rogan (17 not out) and Gordon (26 not out) kept their composure though and with the Warriors rising as one as they survived each ball unscathed, they played out seven nervy overs to secure their side's grand final berth.
"Mate, I was a nervous wreck through those last few overs," Orange City skipper Ed Morrish laughed.
"Obviously I'm feeling a lot better now, I couldn't be happier that we've made another grand final. The boys really stood up under pressure there and got the job done, this is a pretty good feeling.
"I wasn't entirely sure we would get back on after that delay but obviously being a final the umpires were always going to wait as long as possible and CYMS were never going to call it quits early, not in that position, so we knew we were in for the long haul.
"I'm impressed with the boys. Harry getting hurt obviously didn't help, a couple of other guys have niggles too and the stop-start way the second day played out can be frustrating, but they held their nerve, now the focus shifts to next weekend."
Naturally he cut a reasonably dejected figure after the clash considering the result but in terms of his team's performance CYMS skipper Chris Novak was actually really pleased.
Last weekend was one of just three occasions the green and golds scored more than 200 all summer and they fought hard and consistently with the ball to give themselves that sniff late on the second day.
Outside a late-order collapse in which they lost 6-24 on Saturday afternoon, Novak said he couldn't have asked for much more.
"The top order stood up really well in this game and they all put in a great effort at training and then out on the park too, we probably saved our best for last so I was happy with that even though we didn't get the result," he said.
"Orange City had the wood on us all year, they'd beaten us every time we played them this summer and beaten us quite convincingly too, so to take them right to the end, right down to the wire, it does show the grit and determination of all the players at CYMS.
I couldn't be happier that we've made another grand final. The boys really stood up under pressure there and got the job done.
- Orange City skipper Ed Morrish
"Good luck to the Orange City guys next weekend too, and Cavaliers."
While it was very much a fight between two long-time rivals the clash also featured a battle between two of the competition's best all-rounders, with Morrish and Hugh Le Lievre both producing inspired efforts and arguably sharing player-of-the-game honours.
Le Lievre top-scored for CYMS with 61 and backed that up by starring with the ball too, sparking his side's fightback and eventually taking 4-39. Morrish snared 4-44 on the opening day and combined beautifully with Brett Causer (4-36), before producing an innings-best 45 in his Warriors' chase.
Mick Hannelly (47) and Tom West (39) were both good with the bat for CYMS too although they didn't go on with their starts, while Blake Weymouth (37), Nathan Rosser (24) and Lachie Coyte (20) all made inroads for Orange City too.
Morrish admitted his side will be sweating on the fitness of McGregor too and while he was cleared of a break in his wrist, it remains uncertain if he'll be fit for the big dance.
"It's good news that it's not broken and obviously we really hope he's available, he's been great for us so far this summer," Morrish said.
"I think from what he said it's a pretty severe sprain and it would've stopped him from batting on Sunday, but we'll see how he's going early in the week and go from there."
The opening delivery of next weekend's grand final will be bowled at 1pm on Saturday afternoon, with the toss expected at 12.45pm, and play continues on Sunday's second day at 11am.
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