Cricket Southern Bayside: South Caulfield to meet Bonbeach in grand final

Mateship will be put aside when Bonbeach and South Caulfield meet in a classic CSB Championship Division grand final.

South Caulfield players celebrate a Mordialloc wicket on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Caulfield skipper Will Russell has revealed how his side plans to beat Bonbeach in the Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Division grand final on Saturday.

It starts at the top, with Russell nominating Bonny skipper Tom Smith, who goes hard against the new ball, as the key wicket.

“We’d love to get him out cheaply,” Russell said.

“They are fairly similar to us, they bat all the way down.

“We’ll try to stop their attacking blokes and hopefully dry up the others.”

South Caulfield is on a high after a resounding nine-wicket win over Mordialloc in last Saturday’s preliminary final.

The two best sides all season will play off for the flag.

South Caulfield paceman Lachlan Mahon. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bonbeach and South Caulfield met in a semi-final a fortnight ago, with Bonny outplaying South.

Russell says his men are keen to turn the tables in the big one.

“There are a lot of mates between the teams but come Saturday it’s mates aside, we all want to win it,” he said.

“But there’s a huge amount of respect (for Bonbeach).

“We (both teams) have basically played the same core group of players every year so we know them very well and they know us.”

South Caulfield keeper Elliott Bradley. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Caulfield was clinical as it dismissed Mordialloc for 145 in the preliminary final and then coasted to victory with the loss of only one wicket, making 1-146 off 29.2 overs.

Star bat Brad Erasmus led from the front with 89 not out off 82 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes), lifting his season run tally to 507, at 46.09.

Erasmus and Russell (46no) shared an unconquered century stand, taking the score from 1-35 to 1-146 with minimal fuss.

But it was South Caulfield’s bowling brigade that set up the win.

Kanishka Alvitigala.

Opening bowler Henry Hall removed key Mordialloc batsman Chamindru Mathra for 10 before South champion Kanishka Alvitigala stamped his authority on the game, grabbing 4-19 off eight overs.

Alvitigala, nicknamed G-Train, is a proven finals performer.

“He loves turning it on in finals, he’s definitely a big game player,” Russell said.

Lachlan Mahon and Jon Curtis chimed in with a wicket apiece and Erasmus snared 2-11.

Jakob Woinarski top scored for Mordialloc with 31 and keeper Harrison Scott made 22.

So, it’s into yet another grand final for South Caulfield.

Jonathan Curtis.

It will be the club’s 10th flag decider in a row. It has won four flags in that time.

Russell says his players are experienced finals performers, which could prove the difference on Saturday.

“Yeah, (it helps) maybe in the tight moments, the high pressure situations,” he said.

“It’s nice to know we have won one as a team and there’s only one change to last year’s team so we’ve all been there. It’s got to count for something, surely.”

Russell said the grand final would decide the best side.

“Obviously Bonbeach towelled us up two weeks ago,” he said.

“But on the weekend we were superb, it was just the perfect game for us really. A very solid win.

“It’s about right, the two best teams in the grand final. What more can you ask for?”

Mordialloc batter Chamindu Mathra and South Caulfield keeper Elliott Bradley. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In Division 1, Mentone will face Parkdale United in the grand final.

Ben Marsh was man-of-the-match as Parkdale United upset McKinnon in the preliminary final.

Marsh made 31 to help the Pythons put up 7-141. He then captured 5-20 off eight overs with his leggies to restrict McKinnon to 9-120.

In Division 2, South Caulfield recovered from 4-23 to beat Middle Park in the preliminary final.

The fight back was led by South skipper Dan Ford who scored a brilliant 116 not out off 96 balls (3 fours, 5 sixes) and No. 7 Sam Holten (60no off 61 balls) as the side posted 5-229.

The pair shared an unconquered 157-run partnership.

In reply, Middle Park was dismissed for 175, with Adam Welcome taking 4-27 off eight overs.