FSC Cricket called on

Home of two matches, Berrambool Oval in Merimbula was just a touch soft underfoot on Saturday, but had drained well following substantial flooding last week. 

Meanwhile, the Pambula Sporting Complex was described as being “in the best condition for the last 10 years” by members of the Eden Cricket Club.

The Bega-Angledale Bulls only required one win to secure a berth in the Twenty20 grand final, which is what they accomplished. 

The Bulls had a comfortable win over the Merimbula Knights, but lost their second match to Eden. 

 It looked favourable for Merimbula early on as the opening batsmen unleashed a devastating volley of fours and sixes. 

A few high-flying balls slipped by an unlucky outfield and the Knights were racing away on the scoreboard. 

As the batting steadied the Bulls were anxious for wickets as Merimbula rounded 40 runs. 

However, when the dam of wickets finally broke, it crumbled quickly. 

Dylan Jordan was caught by Brad Moon with the Knights on 45. 

The Knights gained just one run before Brendan Daley was sent to the sheds off the bowling of Chris Taylor.

Jeremy Fernando didn’t fare any better and suddenly the Knights were 3/47. 

Corey Lucas went for nine, but Lucas Rixon steadied the ship for the Knights. 

However, wickets fell steadily and at 20 overs, Merimbula had hit 138 runs. 

In reply the combination of Moon and Robbie Ringland proved too much for the Merimbula bowling attack. 

Richard Arbon was caught and bowled fairly early on by Rixon, but the Bulls were already on the way to the target. 

Moon cleared a half century with his 57 runs before he was dismissed, while Ringland added 30. 

Jack Matthews and Riley Wilcox finished off the innings just shy of the 20 over deadline as the Bulls rounded 141 runs.

However, things didn’t go as smoothly in the second match against Eden. 

The Reds levelled an impressive run rate against the Bega-Angledale bowlers. 

Andrew Evelyn scored 46, while Rory Herd added 30 and Tim Bowes was not out on 35. 

At 20 overs, Eden had mustered 168 runs. 

The Bulls came close, but ran out of wickets in the hunt, finishing all out on 148. 

Moon was caught out for a duck and the Bega-Angledale open spiralled southward. 

Hamish Wilcox scored 10, then Alec Watson was dismissed on eight and things looked poorly for the northerners.

 Ringland held the innings together with an impressive 54 run stand in the middle order, while Taylor added a valuable 34 runs to the total.

Unfortunatley, the tail end slumped for easy wickets and the Bulls were out in the final over just 20 runs short of the goal. 

The win was the second on the day for the Eden squad, securing them a berth in the Twenty20 final, where they will meet the Bulls again. 

The game will play at Lord’s View Oval, Kameruka, on Saturday from 3pm. 

The match is likely to be preceeded by two curtain-raisers including a C grade game and a junior exhibition match, but these are yet to be confirmed.