Meredith beat Bannockburn by 15 runs in the T20 grand final at Queens Park

Meredith has collected a mid-season prize as it plots its ascension into GCA3, beating Bannockburn by 15 runs in the T20 grand final on Australia Day.

Meredith's Tyler Dittloff hit 78 in the T20 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

Meredith Cricket Club has picked up a mid-season prize as it plots its ascension into GCA3 after beating Bannockburn in a historic T20 grand final by 15 runs.

The Bulls, in their 150th year of existence, took on a former foe from its days in the Leigh Cricket Association in Meredith at Queens Park on Sunday.

And it was a grand final 43 years in the making.

The short form decider was the first time the two clubs have played off in a grand final since the 1981-82 first grade season, where the Rams won by 39 runs.

And history repeated as Meredith’s 4-169 proved too much for the Bulls, despite losing gun recruit Harli Givvens in the second over.

Meredith beat Bannockburn by 15 runs in the T20 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

Rams captain Tyler Dittloff hit a match-high 78, with assistance from Jai Harvey (36) and Aaron Hart (34) while Darcy Foran (2-31) and Jamieson Jervies (1-25) did their best with the ball.

“We were probably lucky we didn’t have a big game yesterday, we were over in five overs,” Dittloff said after the Rams routed St Albans Breakwater for just 81 on Saturday.

“We’d love to go up (to GCA3), and that’s probably the goal of everyone in GCA4, but I don’t think we’ve made finals for a few years.

“So we’d just love to make finals for a start and go from there.

“It’s a good space at the moment.

Tyler Dittloff takes a scalp in the T20 grand final for Meredith. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

“(Ballarat recruit Matt Ringin’s) played in six or seven grannies, Harli’s won the last couple at East (Ballarat) so their expectations and what they bring to the group probably pushes that a little bit more too.

“And we’re getting good numbers at training too and we’re getting a bit of depth, we had a couple of boys who missed out today who were really disappointed.”

In reply, Harry Vivian (57) and Travis Webber (53) gave the Bulls a chance before losing a bunch of wickets at the tailend of the innings.

Meredith celebrate a wicket against Bannockburn in the T20 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

Dittloff backed it up with the ball, taking 2-21, while Joel Hart (3-24) and Matt Ringin (2-24) helped restrict the Bulls.

“There’s a good feeling around the club, spectators came down today from both sides, it was good to give a good game,” Dittloff said.

“(Harli’s) been clearly our best player all year, it was good the other boys rallied around and didn’t drop their heads when he went early.

“But he came back strong with the ball, bowled really well.”

The Rams, who finished sixth on the GCA4 club championship last season, had risen to fourth post-Christmas, and are now equal first on the first grade ladder.

Meredith's Tyler Dittloff hit 78 in the T20 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

This season’s T20 competition was split into two tournaments, with GCA1 and 2 and GCA3 and 4 outfits battling it out since late October.

Both sides came into Sunday’s decider in a good nick.

The Bulls had recorded their second win for the year in GCA3 first grade the day before, crushing Manifold Heights by 122 runs.

Meanwhile, Meredith had come through the T20 competition unbeaten and flogged St Albans Breakwater by nine wickets on Saturday, chasing down the Supersaints’ 81 in just 33 balls as Givvens belted 56 off 20 balls with nine fours and three sixes.

Originally published as Meredith beat Bannockburn by 15 runs in the T20 grand final at Queens Park