KEALBA-Green Gully is heading to the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association Luscombe Shield grand final and will be installed favourites to bring the shield home.
The Cougars will square off with semi-final surprise packet Pascoe Vale Central – not minor premiers Buckley Park – after Centrals shock victory in the do-or-die final.
It has been the Cougars and Buckley Park setting the pace all summer with many unable to separate the sides on form or on paper.
Buckley Park’s demise will have the odds-makers favouring the Cougars in the big three-day decider at Lakeside Drive Reserve starting on Saturday.
Kealba-Green Gully made light work of Sydenham-Hillside Storm in the semi-final at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday.
The Cougars cruised to a seven wicket win.
The Storm won the toss and batted, posting an insufficient 143 off 70.4 overs.
Warren Hackney played a lone hand for the Storm’s recognised batsmen with 73.
Tailender Alex Hassett made a late 26 to add an element of respectability to the scoreboard.
Cougars opening bowler Jarrod Catania had a day out on Saturday with 7-42 off 23.4 overs.
The Cougars had no trouble reaching the target and did it with seven wickets left in the bank.
Half-centuries to skipper Andrew Lambropoulos (73) and Matt Nadzielski (50) saw them home.
NWMCA
Luscombe Shield: Semi Final: Kealba-Green Gully 3-144 (Lambropoulos 73 Nadzielski 50) d Sydenham-Hillside 143 (Hackney 73 Hassett 26 Catania 7-42 Nadzielski 2-36).
