A Grade Grand Final Report 24/25 session

In contrast to the majority of the past season, the Grand Final weekend was fine, warm to hot conditions, matched by a very well-prepared strip for the contest between Minor Premiers, Berowra and second placed West Pennant Hills Cherrybroook.

WPHC Captain, Cameron McBrien won the toss and invited the Berowra Captain, Will Fiedler, to have a bat.

Tisveer Mistry opened the bowling together with Jackson Preedy, with Scott Griffin and Richard Johnson settling in to be 0/33 at drinks from 15 overs.

The openers put together a stand of 45 runs, when Scott Griffin departed for a patient 20 (72 balls). Alby Watts joined Johnson to add a further 17 runs before being dismissed by Mistry.

Kush Patel came in at No. 4, but was dismissed by Mistry for 8, with the total at 75. Cooper Davenport was the next man in, occupying the crease for 71 balls to score 13 runs, with 102 runs on the board for Berowra, mainly due to Richard Johnsons batting performance.

With the total at 158 Richard Johnson was out caught and bowled, a superb catch, by Harry Hando, Richard having faced 230 balls in an innings of 82 invaluable runs.

Mitch Fullagar was caught behind off Mistry with the score at 160 for 6 and at stumps on Saturday, Berowra were 6/171 from 90 overs, and the match was set up for a battle on the Sunday.

Come day 2, and within 13 overs, Berowra were all out for 184, with the bowling honours going to Harry Hando 4/39 (20 overs) and Tiz Mistry #/31(16 Overs), well supported by tireless Michael Richards2/32 (24.3 overs).

Thus, WPHC were set the task of scoring 185 from a minimum of 75 overs to take the Premiership.

Both openers were back in the sheds for the addition of 22 runs, both wickets taken by Mitch Fullagar, and the pendulum was swinging towards the Minor Premiers.

Jackson Preedy and Billy Gaunt had other ideas, and steadily accumulated runs through excellent running between the wickets, but also dealing with the rare bad balls to the boundary.

Unfortunately, Berowra quick, Brad Fiedler did his hamstring in just his second over and had to leave the field for the rest of the match.

Preedy and Gaunt joined forces at 1.50 and the partnership was eventually broken when Bill chopped on a ball from the persistent Scott Griffin for a score of 67 from 121 balls, and a partnership with Jacko of 107 valuable runs. With the score at 3/129, there was still a match in the balance.

Ashane de Silvas caught on the boundary with no addition to the score and the Berowra crowd increased the noise level in supporting their team. Harry Hando stayed for 20 balls, supporting Preedy but was dismissed for 3, with the total at 151.

Campbell Wallace soon departed, Tom Hando was quickly dismissed by Davenport, and at 7/158, the pendulum was back in action. The verry experienced and reliable Michael Richards joined Preedy, 27 runs short of the target.

Into the final overs, with Scott Griffin and Cooper Davenport operating unchanged since the drinks break, the crowd involvement from both team’s supporters rising with every ball, every run, the atmosphere was worthy of this contest.

The batsmen were resolute in defence, the bowlers similarly determined, the contest continued into the 18 th of the 20 overs in the last hour, with Richards, with the scores tied, went the “cow corner” route to finish the match in great style.

Jackson Preedy was the key to the finish, batting for some 2114 deliveries to post a score of 88 not out, and bring the A Grade Premiership to the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Club.

This match will be remembered for many years as a tremendous contest between two very competent teams, played in the best competitive manner that befits the two best teams in the 2034/25 A Grade Competition. Well done gentlemen.