Experience versus youth will decide the champion side of the 2020 district cricket season

MINOR premiers Waratah and the fast finishing Palmerston will meet for district cricket’s Holy Grail today

District cricket grand final captains Alex Bleakley (Palmerston) and Isaac Conway (Waratah) with the premiership cup. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

WARATAH cricket fans need no reminding their club has not won a Premier Grade grand final since 2009.

That was the year spinners Beau Casson and Brad Schmulian took nine wickets between them and Brett Gardiner and Casson combined for a matchwinning 152-run third wicket partnership.

Fast forward 11 years and a similar scenario appears to be unfolding as the 2020 season reaches its climax.

A Waratah side well endowed with spin bowlers and top order batsmen against a Palmerston opponent running on adrenaline and the enthusiasm of youth.

And the rags to riches stories any sport can boast on the last day of the season certainly applies to this Waratah side.

One win away from the wooden spoon, a major reliance on imported players and a dwindling junior base saw the club withdraw from the senior competition.

That was when cricket journeyman Udara Weerasinghe, new Tahs president Simon Mathias, junior co-ordinator Chris McCormick produced new players and a new focus, resulting in 11 wins from 13 matches and a berth in the biggest game of the year.

Waratah captain Isaac Conway has been one of his side’s prime movers, scoring more than 500 runs opening the batting with James Seymour and performing the wicketkeeping duties.

“I’ve said more than once I didn’t think we’d have a club this year, but all credit to Simon, Chris McCormick and the Ceylon Warriors for making it happen,’’ Conway said.

“Our pace and spin combination has worked well through the middle overs with Tristan Glover drying the runs up and our opening bowlers, Himesh (Sandaradura) and Samindra (Madushan) have been very good with the new ball.’’

Palmerston skipper Alex Bleakley has been nursing a strained quadricep muscle since the semi-final win over Southern Districts.

But the word from the Power skipper was that he will play in a side full of forward momentum after consecutive wins over early season pacesetters Southern Districts.

“I don’t think a lot has changed, except we’ve been working on a batting order that has been working a bit better,’’ Bleakley said.

“I think the players are a bit more aware of their roles now, when previously I was a little bit lost giving them specific roles to do.’’

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While aware of the task ahead of them in trying to topple the most consistent side of the year, Bleakley pointed to his own side’s good recent form.

“I’m sure a lot of people wrote us off against Districts on the weekend just past as well, so we’re confident in our own minds we can perform well again.’’