LAVINGTON picked up more silverware when it overpowered a persistent North Albury by five wickets in the Twenty20 grand final at Wodonga’s John Flower Oval on Sunday.
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Only 10 months after winning the two-day decider, the Panthers showed they are equally as effective in the shorter format by going through the series undefeated.
Lavington set up the match in the opening seven overs when star all-rounders Daryl Tuffey and Nathan Brown destroyed North Albury’s top-order.
It crashed from 0-25 to 5-38 and were fortunate to muster 7-105 thanks to Haydyn Roberts (31 not out) and Brandon Purtell (four not out) hitting 16 off the final over.
But the match then took another turn.
Lavington appeared to be cruising with Tuffey and Sam Harris taking the score to 0-28 before Tuffey’s dismissal for 13 triggered a collapse.
He had bombed two sixes in his brief innings.
Lavington soon crashed to 4-52 and it was game on again. It took something special from Harris, who made 56 off 51 balls, to see the reigning premier home.
An adventurous 13 not out from Brad Dalbosco was also pivotal as the Panthers won with seven balls to spare.
Harris said he was accustomed to North Albury’s fighting spirit.
“It’s always a hard game against North Albury,” Harris said.
“They bowled well and we had to fight all the way.
“It was a hard-fought win by the boys.”
While Harris was a deserved winner of the man-of-the-match award, Roberts ran a close second.
As well as topscoring for the Hoppers, he took 1-18 and held a brilliant diving catch at square leg to dismiss Sam O’Connor for six at a crucial stage of the match.
Hopper skipper Ashley Borella was proud of the way his players persisted after being behind for most of the final.
“We kept at it and weren’t far away,” Borella said.
“Lavington’s bowling attack kept us under pressure though and it was going to be hard after being kept to 100.
“Hopefully we can continue to improve and come back again.”
Meanwhile, St Patrick’s scored a comfortable win over East Albury in the second grade grand final.
Veteran James Kreutzberger led the way win a half-century as the Patties made 2-127 off 20 overs.
East Albury could only manage 88 in reply with Jackson Carmody topscoring with 18.
CAW chairman Michael Erdeljac was pleased with the crowd.
“I was very happy,” Erdeljac said.
“I’d say we would have had 500 people come and go throughout the day which is terrific.”