After a number of near misses in recent seasons, Woodend has finally made it to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup grand final.
Looking for its first top grade premiership since 2003-04, only Bacchus Marsh now stands between Woodend and the trophy.
Woodend continued its good late-season form with a solid win against Riddell in the semi-final.
Day one started well for Riddell and they looked good at 1-77. Enter Peter Manser and Warren Else.
The two turned the game in Woodend’s favour with a brilliant display of bowling.
Between them they took 6-10 to see the Bombers crumble to 7-87.
The Bombers were eventually bowled out for just 142. James Hughes, who came in at number nine, top-scored with 39.
Matthew Livingstone and Craig Ballinger both also scored 30s but there was little other support.
Manser finishing with 7-70 off 21 overs, following on from the six wickets he took the round before.
Michael Nalesnyik said Manser was a player who thrived on pressure and it brought out the best in him.
He said going into day one, he would have been happy to restrict the Bombers to 142.
“There was highs and lows for both sides,” Nalesnyik said. “It was a low-scoring affair and everyone stuck together. It wasn’t the highest score in the world, but in finals it’s still a score on the board.”
Woodend got to 2-39 at stumps on day one.
With a long batting line-up, Nalesnyik was confident they could make it to the desired score, but it wasn’t without a few nerves.
“Our batting is quite deep and one of our strong points of our side,” he said.
“We got the job done seven wickets down. It would have been nice to only have a couple wickets down, it would have reduced the stress levels a little.”
Woodend finished 7-147.
Marcus Stewart top-scored with 43 at the top of the order, while Josh Eastley hit a run a ball 30 lower down.
Matt Darby, Matthew Livingstone and James Hughes took two wickets apiece for the Bombers.
The win sets up a grand final clash with undefeated Bacchus Marsh which made it through to the grand final via a solid win against Romsey.
The only time the two teams met this season, Woodend was missing several key players and lost.
Nalesnyik said the evenness of his side was the key heading into the grand final.
“Everyone is rapt and it’ll be a really good week,” he said. “It’s another match to be played and we’re looking forward to this week.”
Woodend is looking for its first McIntyre premiership since 2003-04.
