Murgheboluc set for last-round clash with Leopold that will set up final four

A Murgheboluc opener made a mammoth 130 runs off just 25 overs, setting up an intriguing battle for the last spot in the finals series.

Cricket GCA2: Murgheboluc V Bell Post Hill Murgheboluc batsman Luke Webb Picture: Mark Wilson

Murgheboluc coach Dan Grozdanovski said he was left in awe of Lewy Hyland’s quick-fire 130 to secure a win in wet and wintry conditions against Marshall.

The match at South Barwon Reserve was one of just three completed GCA games on Saturday, with the victory all-but confirming a spot in the top four for Murgheboluc.

Grozdanovski said Hyland played a faultless innings despite reaching the total in less than 25 overs.

“Lewy is a pretty natural stroke-maker and scores pretty quickly naturally, but it was one of those days where everything found the middle of the bat,” he said.

“Every shot he played seemed to connect with the middle and going to the boundary, whether it was a four or a six.

“He hit a couple of sixes over cover, and you’re not really hitting poor cricket shots if you’re hitting it over cover for six.”

Hyland’s score of 130 propelled Murgheboluc to a total of 2-186 off just 26.1 overs before the rain hit the ground, with players rushing to get the covers on to protect the square.

Grozdanovski said the drainage at the ground allowed play to resume, with the Duckworth-Lewis System in affect for the 25-over chase.

“The team batting first can get stung a bit with the Duckworth-Lewis coming in because they don’t get a chance to really go at the back end of an innings,” he said.

“Luckily for us we started really strongly and it gave them a target of 257 off 25 overs to chase.

“We chose to bowl our spinners a bit more than usual to try to really get through the overs before any rain came again because we were in a position to win.”

Murgheboluc is left in third on the GCA2 ladder, six points shy of second-placed Torquay, and six points clear of finals hopefuls Leopold.

Grozdanovski said he was hopeful of jumping Torquay and securing a double chance next week, but conceded it was an unlikely feat with just one game left in the home-and-away season.

“There’s still a chance we can finish second, we’d need a lot to go our way and we’re playing Leopold who’s season is not over yet,” he said.

“If they win convincingly they can still jump up into the top four, so we know we’re going to have a good game ahead of us next week.”

Originally published as Murgheboluc set for last-round clash with Leopold that will set up final four