Maroons have the edge

By Gavin Staindl
AFTER years of Twenty20 domination by Cardinia, a new era begins on Sunday when Kooweerup hosts Upper Beaconsfield in the final of the West Gippsland Cricket Association Twenty20 competition. Last month’s semi final against Kooweerup was the first time Cardinia has lost a WGCA Twenty20 match (16 undefeated matches in total), opening the door for Kooweerup and Upper Beaconsfield to contest the final on Sunday.
Over a series of three matches, both the Demons and the Maroons blitzed their respective knockout games.
Upper Beaconsfield enters the game on the back of two convincing 70-run wins and bolsters a batting attack in solid form.
First drop John Simpson has notched up two half centuries from three Twenty20 games including a match winning innings in the semi final against Beaconsfield. All-rounder Daniel Brennan is averaging 38 with the bat from his three matches.
Look out for Scott Pitcher who will also play a pivotal role in the final. The leg-spinner has taken nine wickets and allowed 38 runs thus far in the Twenty20 competition and is known for turning matches with bat and ball.
But Pitcher and the rest of the Maroons’ bowling brigade will have to work deep into the Demons batting line up before they find any reprieve.
Kooweerup has won its three matches by an average of 53 runs and boasts one of the best middle orders in the WGCA.
Middle-order batters Shane Dole and Jason Wilson have been in top form, Dole averaging 48 with the bat from this year’s Twenty20 matches and Wilson chiming in for a 69* and a 73 from his two appearances.
Kooweerup’s dynamic bowling attack could also give Upper Beaconsfield some headaches as nine Demons bowlers have chipped in with individual wickets across the season’s Twenty20 competition.
As both sides have experienced a grand final loss at the expense of Cardinia over the last two years, you can expect a tight encounter for Sunday’s match that kicks off at 2pm.