North Albury match-winner George McCormick admitted the "game had gone" after sealing the most remarkable finals win against Albury on Saturday.
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McCormick dismissed No.8 Jerim Hayes, setting off wild celebrations as the Hoppers scored a one-run win.
Shattered veteran Hayes slumped to the ground as the club, in its first finals campaign for 12 years, fell agonisingly short against the finals specialists.
"To be honest, everyone was really quite relaxed (in the frenetic final stages) because the game's gone, in my head, the game had gone," McCormick said.
To be honest, everyone was really quite relaxed because the game's gone, in my head, the game had gone.
- George McCormick
The home team was 7-123, chasing 127 for victory.
"You look at it from any normal point of view and you think that's done, we were just trying to make it hard for them," McCormick said.
North's pulsating win only adds to the club's finals mystique, winning eight of its last nine completed matches.
"The celebrations on the pitch were so memorable, I'd have to say that's the best game of cricket I've been involved in, it was awesome," McCormick said.
"All our other sides had been knocked out and we had a lot of those players there, saying how great it was, the place is just buzzing."
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Albury coach Luke Styles, who along with his team showed great dignity in defeat, was left to rue losing 6-16.
"North Albury, I suppose, has been there and done that a few more times, they found a way to win the game and we found a way to lose."
North faces Wodonga in Saturday's grand final at Albury's Alexandra Park.