by Samuel Laffy
Garfield-Tynong (176) vs Jindivick
Somewhat remarkably – considering the sides comfortably finished first and second on the division four table – heading into their grand final clash Garfield-Tynong and Jindivick had enjoyed a series of thoroughly one-sided encounters throughout season 2024/25.
The Jumping Jacks had bundled the Titans out for 51 in round five and 41 in round 10, whilst Garfield-Tynong ran riot against Jindivick in both the one day final – dismissing them for 76 – and in round 15, where they claimed a 116-run win having bowled the Jumping Jacks out for 78.
And on the back of an exceptional spell of seam bowling from Luke Hume (whose 5/38 from 27 was one of the more impressive seen in recent times in division four finals), it seemed as though the run of emphatic wins would continue.
Hume began by inducing an edge from Phill Young, did what many thought was impossible soon after – removing Tate Burgmann without scoring – and snicked off Aaron Braaksma to have the Titans 4/23.
No doubt flashbacks of last year's decider were also weighing heavily on Garfield-Tynong (where they were rolled for just 42 by Trafalgar), but on this occasion the experienced heads in their lower order launched a staunch fightback that saw the game in the balance at the end of the first day's play.
Matthew Trofa (a gritty 45, although a knock punctuated by some fearsome hook shots against some short bowling from Matt Cheshire), Anthony Hart (who defended doggedly on his way to 15 from 73), and Darren Van Den Berghe (a typically rambunctious 27*) combined to take the Titans through to 176 before they were dismissed in the 68th over.
The advantage of having runs on the board in lower-grade grand finals is often a crucial factor, so it will be fascinating to see if the Jumping Jacks can buck the trend and launch a successful run-chase next weekend.