Port Elliot will take on Noarlunga in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) ‘A’ grade Grand Final at Encounter Bay this weekend. It will be the first time the two clubs have played off in a GSCA decider. Port Elliot qualified after defeating Encounter Bay by 18 runs at Burgess Oval yesterday, while Noarlunga defeated minor premier Goolwa by 72 runs at Encounter Bay.

In the first semi-final, Noarlunga batted first and posted a competitive total of 147 before being bowled out in the 70th over. Most of the Noarlunga top order got a start with Jason Scarff (32), Travis Bronstein (23), Rohan Garrard (23), and Matthew Spaan (20) the leading run scorers. Jayden Crees (4/47), Josh Andrewartha (2/19), Shaun Burger (1/11), and Andy Evans (1/21) were the wicket takers for the Magpies. Noarlunga got off to a great start on day two as they reduced Goolwa to 5/27, with Josh Jones (20) the only batsman in the top-five to reach double figures. Fred Nissen (16), Burger (12 not out), Vic Robertson (10) and Dean Vickery (10) battled hard, but ultimately Goolwa were bowled out for just 75 in the 52nd over. Jamie Keers was the star with the ball for the Shoes with figures of 6/30 from 19.1 overs. It was Keers’ fourth five-wicket haul in ‘A’ grade ranks for Noarlunga. Harry Jackson (2/13), Jason Scarff (1/9) and Ben Stewart-Tonkin (1/23) were the other wicket takers for Noarlunga. Scarff was particularly miserly with 15 maidens in his 20 overs. 

In the second semi-final, Port Elliot won the toss and decided to bat first at Burgess Oval. Hayden Gordge (37) and Liam Harris (30) batted patiently to add 59 runs for the first wicket in 33 overs. Skipper Joel Harris (27) then put on 38 for the fifth wicket with Ben Griffiths as the Bloods finished with 6/180. Griffiths went on to top score with 44 not out from 53 balls. His innings included seven boundaries, with four coming in consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over of the innings. Dillon Burns (2/23) and Chris Butler (2/46) were the multiple wicket takers for Encounter Bay. The Bays got off to a disastrous start in their run chase yesterday with both openers dismissed without scoring and the score sitting at 2/10. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, but with the Bays’ gun left-hander Sam Hoffmann still at the crease, the game was still up for grabs. Hoffmann dominated the innings with a top-scoring 78 from 146 balls (12 x 4’s, 1 x 6) before he was run-out with the score on 8/129. This soon became 9/131 and it appeared all over before Kieran Garrett joined Caleb Polson for a last wicket stand. They gave Port Elliot a bit of a scare with a 31-run partnership before Garrett was dismissed for 11 (28 balls). Polson battled gamely to finish with 26 not out (67 balls) as Encounter Bay were bowled out for 162 in the 66th over. Chris O’Connor (3/17) and Simon Donaldson (3/65) were the multiple wicket takers for Port Elliot. 

Grand Final (18/3/23 & 19/3/23)

Port Elliot v Noarlunga (Encounter Bay)