Anthony Tucker
29 March 2021, 7:30 PM
Willunga completed an unbeaten 2020/21 season with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Port Elliot in the Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) Grand Final on Sunday. Port Elliot won the toss on Saturday and had no hesitation in batting first but they got off to a shaky start as they slumped to 3/15. Port Elliot skipper Brodie Whitbourne (20 off 63 balls) battled hard as did teenager Liam Harris who top scored with 25 from 55 balls. Ben Griffiths (11) was the only other Bloods batsman to reach double figures as the home side were bowled out for 82 in the 45th over. Sean McIvor (4/26), Luke Goldner (3/16) and Simon Roberts (3/32) did all the damage for the Demons. Willunga lost skipper Luke Harding (5) with the score at 1/13 but Joel Docking and Braden Altus got through unscathed until stumps at 1/48. Simon Donaldson (1/22) was the wicket taker. Willunga knocked off the required target in the first hour of day two as they finished on 1/84 with Docking (53 not out) and Altus (22 not out).
Willunga has now won 23 consecutive matches with their last loss coming way back in October 2019. It was the Demons’ third ‘A’ grade premiership in the past four seasons.
In the other senior grades, Myponga defeated Noarlunga by six wickets to win the ‘B’ grade premiership, Goolwa won by 48 runs against Willunga Red to take out the C1 flag and Encounter Bay won the C2 premiership with a 22-run victory over Rapid Bay. Port Elliot won the junior colts premiership after defeating Noarlunga by 44 runs at Victor Harbor while Noarlunga went ‘back-to-back’ in the senior colts with a tight two-wicket win over Yankalilla at Port Elliot.