A thunderstorm ruined Riddell’s hopes of claiming a second Central Highlands Cricket Willow Cup in three years.
Playing in the grand final for a third straight year, claiming the title of the region’s best T20 side and a spot in TAC Cup Regional Big Bash finals was on the line for the Bombers on Australia Day.
But in the end the Bombers and Golden Point had to settle for a draw and the match being rescheduled to October.
Bombers playing coach Mick Allen said was an interesting day.
“It was pretty dark early on and then it hammered down,” he said.
“The game was rescheduled to October when both sides could have different teams. It was either that or a toss of the coin, which neither side wanted.
“There was a chance to start the game earlier but that didn’t happen which would have meant it could have been decided by Duckworth-Lewis.” The match got underway with thunderstorms brewing in the background.
The Bombers started in a familiar fashion with Allen hitting out early on to get his side off to a good start.
The Bombers got off to a flyer, before Golden Point stemmed the flow and restricted the Bombers to 9-130.
Allen said the total was probably 20 to 30 short of what they would have liked.
Allen top scored making 28 and Cameron Moran made 27.
Golden Point started its innings as the storms approached.
Just 1.2 overs were bowled before play
was halted due to the storms and the
players didn’t get back on the field, resulting in the draw.
The Bombers had to back it up the next day, in day two of their Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup match against Romsey.
The Bombers got the runs, with two wickets in hand.
Allen said the match ended up tighter than it should have been. “At 4-140 we had the game in control,” he said.
“We had to push guys up the order due to a few circumstances. As long as we batted out time we thought we had enough batting power in the shed.”
Craig Ballinger top scored with 48, while Allen and Moran, who were both pushed down the order, got the side home.
The win leaves the Bombers undefeated and second on the ladder.
The next three matches will be a test for them, as they face Woodend in both a two-dayer and one-dayer over the next two weekends and fellow undefeated side Bacchus Marsh after that.
Allen said they just had to keep on winning and make sure they secure a home final.
The Bombers weren’t the only GDCA side competing in the Cricket Willow finals,.Macedon lost the division 2 grand final.
